II  B  R.AR.Y 

OF   THE 

UNIVERSITY 
OF    ILLINOIS 


v'ATURAL  HISTORY  SURVE 

530.5 


v.10 
cop.3 


FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY. 


PLATE  IV,  ZOOLOt, 


Map  of  Lake  Maracaibo  and  adjacent  region.     Collecting  stations  marked  x. 


MAMMALS   FROM  WESTERN   VENEZUELA  AND 
EASTERN   COLOMBIA. 


BY   WILFRED    H.    OSGOOD. 


The  subjoined  report  comprises  the  more  obvious  results  derived 
from  a  study  of  the  mammals  recently  collected  in  Venezuela  and 
Colombia  by  the  writer  and  Mr.  Stanley  G.  Jewett,  assistant.  Owing 
to  the  relatively  large  amount  of  time  necessarily  spent  in  travel  and 
preparation,  actual  field  work  was  limited  to  about  40  days,  but  in 
that  short  time  the  rich  fauna  yielded  232  specimens  of  large  and  small 
mammals  and  462  birds. 

The  birds  have  not  yet  been  studied,  but  the  percentage  of  novelty 
and  value  among  the  mammals  is  worthy  of  remark  as  indicating  in 
slight  degree  the  possibilities  of  South  America  as  a  field  for  zoological 
exploration.  The  mammals  obtained  include  10  species  and  subspecies 
new  to  science,  some  eight  genera  new  to  Field  Museum,  and  three  or 
four  genera  for  the  first  time  brought  to  an  American  institution. 
Practically  all  the  species,  known  and  unknown,  were  unrepresented 
in  our  collections,  and  a  considerable  number  were  not  to  be  seen  out- 
side of  Europe. 

Of  particular  interest  and  value  were  the  discovery  of  the  habitat 
and  the  acquirement  of  complete  specimens  of  the  extraordinary  mar- 
supial, C&nolestes.  This  was  previously  known  only  from  imperfect 
native-made  skins  with  skulls  or  parts  of  skulls  and  is  one  of  the  extreme- 
ly few  mammals,  perhaps  the  only  one  of  superfamily  rank,  of  which 
the  general  anatomy  and  osteology  are  unknown.  Study  of  the  rela- 
tionships of  this  animal  and  their  numerous  important  bearings  demands 
more  time  than  is  at  present  available.  It  is  therefore  deferred  for 
adequate  treatment  in  a  later  paper. 

Sailing  from  New  York  December  31,  1910,  we  reached  Maracaibo, 
Venezuela,  via  Porto  Rico  and  Curacao,  January  9,  1911.  During  the 
delay  before  proceeding  inland,  a  short  trip  was  made  from  this  point 
to  the  opposite  shore  of  Lake  Maracaibo  where  we  were  guests  of  Sr. 
Alberto  Tinedo  Velasco  at  his  hato  or  ranch  called  El  Panorama.  Later 
on  January  28,  we  took  a  lake  steamer  and  proceeded  to  the  southern 
end  of  the  lake  and  thence  up  the  Catatumbo  River  to  the  small  settle- 

33 


34       FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

ment  of  Encontrados.  Disembarking,  we  continued  by  rail  the  follow- 
ing day  to  Uraca,  the  terminus  of  the  "Gran  Ferrocarril  del  Tachira." 
Thence  with  mules  we  quickly  passed  into  the  highlands  to  San  Juan 
de  Colon,  and  after  slight  delay  in  securing  fresh  animals,  went  on  from 
there  westward  to  San  Jose  de  Cucuta,  Colombia.  Further  mule  travel 
brought  us  to  the  upper  slopes  of  the  Paramo  de  Tama,  south  of  Cucuta, 
where  camp  was  established  at  about  7,000  ft.  altitude,  first  on  the 
Colombian  side  of  the  boundary  and  later  a  few  miles  away  on  the 
Venezuelan  side. 

On  the  return  a  month  later,  several  days  were  spent  at  El  Guaya- 
bal  near  Cucuta.  Rail  transportation  was  then  available  to  Puerto 
Villamizar  and  canoes  from  there  to  Encontrados,  where  we  found  a 
steamer  lying  at  the  bank  bound  for  Maracaibo.  Proceeding  directly 
there,  Mr.  Jewett,  who  had  contracted  a  slight  malarial  fever,  im- 
mediately took  passage  for  the  United  States  while  I  remained  to  make 
a  brief  trip  to  the  savannas  of  Empalado,  some  thirty  miles  east  of 
Maracaibo. 

Our  collecting  stations  were  comparatively  few:  (i)  El  Panorama, 
Rio  Aurare,  Venezuela;  (2)  Paramo  de  Tama,  Colombia  and  Vene- 
zuela; (3)  El  Guayabal,  Colombia;  and  (4)  Empalado  Savannas, 
Venezuela.  A  few  specimens  from  other  places  were  obtained  from 
natives  in  Maracaibo,  and  a  small  collection  secured  for  the  Museum 
by  Mr.  H.  F.  Raven  at  Encontrados  also  is  recorded  at  this  time.  The 
localities  of  our  own  work  may  be  described  briefly  as  follows : 

El  Panorama,  January  17-24.  Situated  nearly  due  east  of  Mara- 
caibo and  scarcely  beyond  the  sound  of  its  church  bells  some  eight 
miles  away,  El  Panorama,  the  hato  of  Sr.  Tinedo,  is  nevertheless  a 
place  of  apparent  isolation.  It  is  reached  by  means  of  a  shallow 
winding  slew  or  cany  a,  the  lower  part  of  which  traverses  a  heavy  growth 
of  overhanging  mangroves  and  the  upper  a  broad  expanse  of  waving 
bulrushes.  The  house  and  surrounding  shelters  from  which  we  worked 
are  on  high  ground  overlooking  a  sea  of  bulrushes  and  grassy  swamp 
with  patches  of  open  water  in  the  distance.  To  the  southwest  is  a 
mangrove  swamp  extending  to  the  shore  of  the  big  lake,  while  south 
and  east  is  relatively  high  dry  land  covered  with  the  open  forest  char- 
acteristic of  arid  tropical  regions.  Wild  pineapples  or  mayas  abound, 
small  palms  and  various  cacti  are  scattered  about,  and  numerous  small 
and  mostly  thorny  shrubs  are  features  of  the  vegetation.  A  half  a 
mile  from  the  house  is  a  large  cienega,  or  spring-fed  pond,  and  a  few 
miles  beyond  are  several  smaller  ones.  The  course  of  the  Rio  Aurare, 
which  carries  no  water  in  the  dry  season,  runs  near  by  and  is  lost  among 


JAN.,  1912.     MAMMALS,  VENEZUELA  AND  COLOMBIA  —  OSGOOD.         35 

the  mangroves  bordering  the  lake.  Cattle  trails  and  bridle  paths 
lead  in  all  directions,  and  in  general  great  freedom  of  movement  is 
possible.  Animal  life  is  abundant  and  varied,  including  at  least  three 
associations  of  species,  that  of  the  mangroves,  that  of  the  rushes  and 
open  swamps,  and  that  of  the  dry  wooded  upland. 

Paramo  de  Tama,  February  i2-March  6.  Paramo  de  Tama  is  the 
name  applied  to  the  more  or  less  distinct  mountain  mass  lying  near 
the  boundary  between  Venezuela  and  Colombia  at  the  source  of  the 
Tachira  River.*  Our  approach  to  it  was  along  the  course  of  this  river 
and  our  final  camps  were  near  the  headwaters,  two  days'  hard  travel 
from  the  hot  valley  in  which  Cucuta  lies.  Much  of  the  lower  slopes 
of  the  mountains  is  cultivated,  or  at  least  cleared  and  used  for  pasture. 
The  country  is  rugged,  however,  and  the  mountains  close  in  rapidly, 
sloping  steeply  to  both  sides  of  the  river  only  a  few  miles  south  of 
the  picturesque  pueblo  of  San  Antonio.  Among  the  steep  canyons 
well  along  the  way  is  the  settlement  of  Planadas,  and  some  miles  far- 
ther is  Mundo  Nuevo,  a  forlorn  but  quaint-looking  little  village  perched 
on  a  shelving  bit  of  mountain-side,  from  which  steep  declivities  drop 
almost  directly  to  the  river. 

Here  we  are  in  the  tierra  fria  and  although  an  occasional  palm,  a 
small  cultivation  of  plantains,  or  a  hedge  of  golden-fruited  wild  oranges 
still  reminds  that  we  are  not  in  a  northern  region,  there  are  many  fea- 
tures distinctly  incongruous  with  these.  Waste  places  in  the  clearings 
support  great  patches  of  familiar  looking  wing  ferns  and  thickets  of 
veritable  blackberries  in  full  fruit,  while  about  some  of  the  houses  are 
peach  trees,  and  on  the  cultivated  hillsides  growing  corn,  potatoes, 
and  beans. 

Our  headquarters  were  at  the  very  last  and  uppermost  hacienda, 
known  as  El  Severia,  where  we  were  introduced  by  our  good  friend  Sr. 
Don  Mario  Gonzales,  the  owner,  and  cordially  received  by  Don  Sebas- 
tian Valencia,  the  due  no,  or  manager.  Considerable  clearing  sur- 
rounds the  hacienda,  and  a  few  outlying  ranchos,  or  thatched  shelters 
for  laborers,  are  encountered  here  and  there,  but  in  general  the  country 
above  and  beyond  is  in  virgin  condition.  A  great  unbroken  forest 
covers  the  slopes  lying  below  the  crescentic  crest  of  the  paramo,  which 
is  largely  rugged,  rocky,  and  bare,  but  with  tongues  of  forest  or  strag- 
gling trees  creeping  over  the  summit  at  certain  points. 

The  first  camp  was  in  the  heart  of  this  forest  at  an  estimated  alti- 
tude of  7,500  feet.  A  narrow  rough  trail  having  been  cut  for  several 


*  The  word  paramo,  strictly  speaking,  applies  to  the  bleak  plateau  which  usually  characterizes 
the  summit  of  such  mountains,  but  in  this  case  it  often  refers  to  the  entire  elevated  region. 


36        FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

miles  directly  into  the  forest,  a  clearing  was  made  for  the  camp,  and 
short  radiating  trails  cut  in  various  directions,  providing  somewhat 
greater  possibilities  of  movement  than  beating  one's  way  through  the 
undergrowth  with  a  machete.  The  large  forest  trees,  all  of  unfamiliar 
species,  lace  their  tops  together  at  an  average  height  of  something 
over  100  feet.  Mists  and  drizzling  rains  prevail  a  great  part  of  the 
year  and  mosses,  air  plants,  and  climbing  vines  thrive,  but  the  growth 
in  general  is  not  so  profuse  as  that  of  the  hot  tropics.  A  beautiful 
climbing  bamboo  is  exceedingly  abundant,  and  graceful  tree  ferns  raise 
their  spreading  tops  at  pleasing  intervals. 

After  two  weeks  in  the  forest  we  returned  to  the  hacienda,  and 
from  there  crossed  the  river  and  ascended  the  opposite  slope  on  the 
Venezuelan  side.  Here  we  stopped  a£  approximately  the  same  alti- 
tude as  at  the  former  camp,  but  although  heavy  forest  was  readily 
accessible,  clearings  and  partly  burned  areas  predominated.  An  indis- 
tinct trail  led  upward  to  the  cliffs  of  the  summit  of  the  paramo.  A 
visit  to  these  was  very  disappointing,  for  although  scattered  thickets 
and  clumps  of  trees  alternate  with  grassy  openings  and  small  ponds  in 
somewhat  Alpine  character,  little  sign  of  animal  life  appears.  The 
few  birds  seen  were  of  species  common  at  less  elevation,  and  signs  of 
small  mammals  were  entirely  lacking.  In  the  swamps  and  woods 
about  the  camp,  however,  we  obtained  most  of  the  species  taken  at  the 
other  camp  and  a  few  additional  ones. 

El  Guayabal,  March  12-17.  The  station  of  El  Guayabal  is  a  small 
one  on  the  railroad  connecting  Cucuta  and  Puerto  Villamizar.  It 
serves  only  a  very  limited  population  engaged  in  farming  and  although 
only  some  ten  miles  north  of  Cucuta,  it  is  in  a  region  of  slightly  different 
character.  This  difference  is  not  very  pronounced  and  consists  chiefly 
in  the  presence  at  El  Guayabal  of  some  features  indicating  a  slightly 
more  humid  climate  than  that  of  Cucuta.  That  is,  its  character  is 
somewhat  intermediate  between  that  of  Cucuta,  where  it  is  dry,  and 
that  of  Puerto  Villamizar  where  it  is  relatively  humid. 

At  Cucuta  conditions  are  very  arid,  except  near  the  river  and  in 
cultivated  areas  more  or  less  under  irrigation.  Cacti  and  small  thorny 
shrubs  are  the  dominant  types  of  vegetation.  At  Puerto  Villamizar, 
on  the  other  hand,  there  is  heavy  forest  and  luxuriant  undergrowth. 
In  passing  by  train  between  the  two  places  one  observes  that  the 
change  from  the  arid  type  to  the  humid  one  is  quite  gradual.  It  has 
only  begun  at  El  Guayabal  and  in  general  the  birds  and  mammals 
taken  there  belong  to  associations  of  species  usually  found  in  arid  rather 
than  humid  regions.  During  the  few  days  spent  there,  collecting  was 


JAN.,  igi2.     MAMMALS,  VENEZUELA  AND  COLOMBIA  —  OSGOOD.         37 

done  mostly  along  a  wooded  quebrada  some  three  miles  west  of  the 
railroad.  This  was  probably  quite  dry  earlier  in  the  season  but  recent 
rains  had  left  pools  of  water  of  considerable  extent  at  frequent  intervals 
along  its  course.  The  surrounding  country  consists  of  low  rolling  hills 
a  few  hundred  feet  in  height  and  covered  with  forest  of  considerable 
density.  The  general  elevation,  however,  is  not  great  and  the  descent 
is  very  gradual  to  the  Zulia  River  and  the  lowlands,  through  which  it 
flows  to  Lake  Maracaibo. 

Empalado  Savannas,  April  6-14.  In  the  vicinity  of  El  Panorama 
and  thence  inland,  there  is  practically  continuous  growth  of  moderate- 
sized  trees,  palms,  cacti,  and  small  shrubs,  but  some  thirty  miles  to 
the  east  we  suddenly  emerge  upon  grassy  openings  varying  in  extent 
from  two  or  three  to  several  hundred  acres.  These,  the  so-called  sav- 
annas of  Empalado,  are,  strictly  speaking,  neither  level  nor  treeless. 
Open  natural  pastures  alternate  with  fairly  extensive  wooded  areas, 
but  narrow  leads  usually  permit  passage  from  one  opening  to  another. 
The  heaviest  growth  is  naturally  along  the  watercourses  or  quebradas, 
which  are  mostly  dry  during  a  great  part  of  the  year.  Near  our  camp- 
ing place,  which  was  chosen  with  regard  for  them,  were  several  cienegas 
and  permanent  pools  of  water.  Abundant  rains,  however,  soon  robbed 
these  spots  of  their  distinction,  and  turbid  floods  covered  the  sandy 
bottoms  formerly  so  conveniently  used  as  highways  by  man  and  beast.* 
Many  of  the  trees  are  of  the  same  species  found  in  the  vicinity  of  El 
Panorama.  The  big  feathery-leaved  carocaro  (Pithecolobium)  is  the 
most  impressive  of  those  growing  near  the  quebradas,  but  is  rivaled 
in  size  by  the  smooth  yellow-barked  copaiba  which  is  found  more 
commonly  on  higher,  drier  ground.  Cacti  are  less  common  than  at 
El  Panorama  but  palms  are  more  so.  A  large  heavy  bamboo  is  abun- 
dant, often  covering  extensive  areas  on  low  ground  near  the  quebradas. 

Passing  acknowledgment  has  been  made  on  other  pages  for  some 
of  the  hospitable  aid  received  during  our  work,  but  too  much  can  scarce- 
ly be  said.  Mr.  Ralph  J.  Totten,  then  American  Consul  at  Maracaibo, 
assisted  us  in  many  ways,  not  only  officially  but  also  through  a  lively 
personal  interest  in  natural  history.  Through  him  we  met  Sr.  Don 
Alberto  Tinedo  Velasco,  in  whom  we  found  a  genial  host  at  El  Pano- 
rama as  well  as  a  hunter  and  naturalist  with  a  keen  interest  in,  and  wide 
knowledge  of,  the  animals  of  his  country.  Later,  the  trip  to  Paramo 
de  Tama  was  made  possible  by  Sr.  Don  Mario  Gonzales  of  Cucuta, 
who  invited  us  to  his  hacienda  and  even  accompanied  us  on  the  rather 


*  It  is  perhaps  worthy  of  note  that  we  experienced  one  severe  hailstorm,  a  phenomenon  entirely 
novel  to  our  native  guides,  some  of  whom  were  over  fifty  years  of  age. 


38        FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

arduous  trip  to  it.  The  short  visit  to  El  Guayabal  was  arranged  for 
us  by  Messrs.  Kohler  and  Boue,  German  business  men  of  Cucuta. 
To  Mr.  Boue"  we  were  indebted  also  for  other  courtesies.  Sr.  Don  Jose 
Osorio,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Maracaibo,  went  with  us  to  the  Empalado 
Savannas  and  performed  various  services  for  us  in  Maracaibo. 

In  identifying  the  collection  of  mammals,  it  has  been  necessary  to 
borrow  specimens  from  the  U.  S.  National  Museum,  the  American 
Museum  of  Natural  History,  and  the  Museum  of  Comparative  Zoology. 
In  addition,  specimens  were  sent  to  the  British  Museum  for  compari- 
son, since  it  is  the  unfortunate  fact  that  all  American  institutions  com- 
bined have  not  as  yet  sufficient  material  from  South  America  to  insure 
satisfactory  identification  of  specimens  requiring  only  a  few  weeks  t6 
gather.  The  cordial  cooperation  received  from  the  officers  of  these 
institutions  is  most  gratefully  acknowledged.  Special  mention  of 
courtesies  received  from  particular  individuals  will  be  found  else- 
where. 

For  the  final  preparation  oT  the  accompanying  map,  I  am  indebted 
to  Mr.  A.  B.  Walcott,  Assistant  in  the  Department  of  Zoology,  Field 
Museum. 

Cifnolest.es  obscurus  Thomas.     Dusky  Csenolestes. 

Eleven  specimens,  Paramo  de  Tama,  head  of  Tachira  River,  Col- 
ombia and  Venezuela. 

Being  fortunate  enough  to  find  the  home  of  these  most  interesting 
arid  little  known  animals,  we  made  every  effort  to  secure  as  many 
as  possible,  but  after  a  month's  work  our  series  was  still  quite  small. 
A  limited  amount  of  material  for  study  of  the  osteology  and  gross 
anatomy  was  preserved  and  this  it  is  hoped  may  form  the  basis  of  a 
subsequent  paper  to  include  also  a  discussion  of  habits  and  rela- 
tionships. 

One  of  our  specimens  was  submitted  to  Mr.  Thomas  of  the  British 
Museum,  who  pronounces  it  specifically  identical  with  C.  obscurus  from 
Bogota,  agreeing  in  color  and  cranial  characters  and  only  showing  such 
differences  in  proportions  as  are  doubtless  due  to  the  unreliability  of 
measurements  taken  from  native-made  skins.  External  measurements 
of  5  males  average:  Total  length  240.6  (235-251) ;  head  and  body  119.2 
(113-135);  tail  vertebras  121.4  (118-126);  hind  foot  (c.  u.)  23.5  (23-24.5). 
Of  5  females:  223  (209-230);  107.6  (106-113);  115.4  (103-121);  22.5 
(22-23). 


JAN.,  1912.     MAMMALS,  VENEZUELA  AND  COLOMBIA  —  OSGOOD.         39 

Didelphis  marsupialis  colombica  Allen.     Colombian  Opossum. 

One  specimen,  El  Panorama,  Rio  Aurare,  Jan.  21,  1911. 

Owing  to  its  very  large  size,  this  specimen,  an  old  male,  seems 
clearly  referable  to  D.  m.  colombica,  if  that  be  a  valid  form.  In  fact, 
our  specimen  exceeds  the  average  size  of  the  Santa  Marta  series  forming 
the  original  basis  of  the  name  colombica  and  almost  equals  D.  m.  insul- 
aris  of  Trinidad,  the  largest  of  the  forms  of  Didelphis  marsupialis. 
Flesh  measurements  are:  Total  length  865;  tail  vertebrae  435;  hind 
foot  64.  Skull:  Greatest  length  110.7;  zygomatic  breadth  63.5;  post- 
orbital  breadth  27.4;  nasals  53.3x17.6;  upper  toothrow,  including 
canine  42.  without  canine  34.4. 

Local  name  Rabo  Pelado. 

Didelphis  paraguayensis  meridensis  Allen.     Merida  Opossum. 

One  specimen,  Paramo  de  Tama,  Venezuela.     Alt.  6,000-7,000  ft. 

This  was  caught  by  Mr.  Jewett  in  a  trap  set  in  a  large  cavity  under 
the  roots  of  a  tree  in  the  deep  forest.  It  is  in  the  light  phase  and  the 
dark  facial  markings  are  evidently  not  so  greatly  reduced  as  in  the  type 
of  this  subspecies.  Possibly  it  is  nearer  to  D.  p.  andina. 

Local  name  Faro. 

Marmosa    mitis    pallidiventris     subsp.    nov.      Pale-bellied    Mouse 
Opossum. 

Type  from  El  Guayabal,  10  miles  N.  of  Cucuta,  Colombia.  No. 
18692  Field  Museum  of  Natural  History.  Female  adult.  Collected 
March  14,  1911,  by  W.  H.  Osgood  and  S.  G.  Jewett. 

Characters.  Similar  to  M.  mitis  but  slightly  smaller  and  consider- 
ably paler,  especially  on  the  underparts.  Chin,  throat,  chest,  and 
middle  of  belly  delicate  pale  whitish  creamy  instead  of  cream  buff  as 
in  mitis;  forefeet  and  carpal  joint  whitish  without  extension  of  darker 
from  the  forearm;  upperparts,  sides,  and  flanks  a  slightly  paler  shade 
of  clay  color  than  in  mitis,  the  color  of  the  sides  gradually  paling  over 
the  area  of  hairs  w^th  dark  bases  on  either  side  of  the  midventral  region; 
face  markings  practically  as  in  mitis,  the  lower  cheeks  somewhat  paler. 

Skull  slightly  smaller  than  in  M.  mitis;  rostrum  more  "pinched" 
in  front  of  lateral  expansions  of  nasals ;  otherwise  similar. 

Measurements.  Type:  Total  length  284;  head  and  body  129; 
tail  vertebras  155;  hind  foot  (c.  u.)  20.  Skull  of  type:  Greatest  length 
33.8;  condylo-basal  length  33.2;  zygomatic  breadth  18.9;  nasals  15  x  4.5; 


40       FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

interorbital  breadth  5.6;  breadth  of  braincase  12.8;  postpalatal  length 
12.2;  three  anterior  molariform  teeth  6.2. 

Remarks.  The  area  of  hairs  with  dark  bases  seems  to  be  quite  as 
extensive  in  this  form  as  in  M.  mitis.  Therefore  it  seems  scarcely  pos- 
sible that  it  is  the  same  as  M.  m.  casta  in  which  this  area  is  said  to  be 
greatly  reduced. 

The  single  specimen  was  brought  to  us  by  a  boy  who  killed  it  with 
a  stick  as  it  ran  from  an  overturned  corn  shock.  Considerable  trapping 
was  done  in  the  same  field  but  none  of  this  species  was  caught. 

Myrmecophaga  tridactyla  artatus  subsp.  nov.    Venezuelan  Ant-bear. 

Type  (skull  only)  from  Empalado  Savannas,  30  miles  east  of  Mara- 
caibo,  Venezuela.  Adult.  Collected  March  19 ji  by  W.  H.  Osgood. 

Characters.  Differs  from  M.  tridactyla  and  M.  t.  centralis  in  its 
much  narrower  nasals  and  less  expanded  maxillaries,  making  the 
entire  rostral  part  of  the  skull  decidedly  narrower;  anterior  lateral 
extensions  of  frontals  less  produced  than  in  centralis  but  more  so  than 
in  tridactyla;  greatest  depth  of  maxillary  much  less  than  in  tridactyla; 
antero-inferior  production  of  parietal  considerably  exposed  on  ventral 
surface  of  skull  as  in  centralis. 

Measurements  of  skull.  Greatest  length  346  (344)  ;*  length  of  nasals 
(median)  148.7  (150),  (diagonal)  177  (178);  greatest  width  of  nasals 
16  (19.6) ;  least  width  of  nasals  10  (14.2) ;  greatest  width  of  rostrum  22.3 
(28.2);  least  width  of  rostrum  19.8  (24.3);  greatest  depth  of  maxillary 
20.3  (20);  least  interorbital  width  42.2  (45);  median  length  of  frontals 
144.2  (140);  mastoid  width  54.4  (55.7);  lacrymal  38.5  x  17.5  (31  x  18). 

Remarks.  This  form  seems  well  distinguished  from  both  M.  tridac- 
tyla of  Brazil  and  M.  t.  centralis  of  Central  America,  the  characters  of 
which  have  been  so  clearly  pointed  out  by  Lyon  (Prfoc.  U.  S.  Nat.  Mus., 
XXXI,  pp.  569-571,  pi.  XIV,  1906).  It  is  somewhat  nearer  centralis, 
agreeing  with  that  form  in  the  character  of  the  antero-inferior  part  of 
the  parietal  and  in  the  relatively  shallow  maxillae.  In  the  relations  of 
the  anterior  productions  of  the  frontals  it  is  somewhat  intermediate. 
A  specimen  from  Dibulla,  Colombia,  loaned  by  the  Museum  of  Comp- 
parative  Zoology,  evidently  is  referable  to  the  new  form  although  less 
pronounced  in  its  characters  than  the  type;  while  one  from  Ciudad 
Bolivar,  Venezuela,  belonging  to  the  American  Museum  of  Natural 
History,  is  quite  as  definitely  referable  to  the  Brazilian  form. 

Material  is  not  as  yet  available  to  determine  what  external  charac- 


*  Measurements  in  parentheses  are  those  of  an  adult  skull  of  centralis  (No.  15966)  from  Guatemala. 


JAN.,  1912.     MAMMALS,  VENEZUELA  AND  COLOMBIA  —  OSGOOD.         41 

ters,  if  any,  distinguish  the  three  forms.  Our  specimen  was  obtained 
through  Don  Alberto  Tinedo  who  killed  the  animal  a  few  weeks  before 
our  visit  to  the  Empalado  Savannas.  During  the  few  days  we  spent 
in  this  locality  we  failed  to  see  any  large  anteaters,  although  they  are 
regarded  as  not  uncommon. 
Local  name  Oso  Palmero. 

Tamandua  tetradactyla  instabilis  Allen.     Tamandua  Anteater. 

Two  specimens,  El  Panorama,  Rio  Aurare  (i),  Empalado  Savan- 
nas (i). 

These  agree  closely  with  topotypes  in  the  small  size  which 
seems  to  be  the  principal  character.  The  animal  is  only  moderately 
common  in  the  Maracaibo  region  and  the  two  specimens  secured  were 
the  only  ones  seen.  One  was  shot  from  the  top  of  a  small  tree  where 
it  was  discovered  and  called  to  my  attention  by  workmen  cooking 
their  supper  after  dark  under  the  tree.  The  other  was  met  in  midday 
ambling  across  the  end  of  a  small  savanna.  It  quickened  its  pace 
somewhat  when  it  saw  me  and  as  I  advanced  it  finally  broke  into  an 
awkward  lope  toward  the  nearest  tree,  which  it  started  to  ascend. 

Local  name  Oso  Hormiguero. 

Dasypus  novemcinctus  Linnaeus.     Nine-banded  Armadillo. 

Fourteen  specimens  (skulls),  vicinity  of  Maracaibo,  Venezuela. 

The  nine-banded  armadillo,  cachicamo  of  the  natives,  is  exceedingly 
abundant  in  the  sandy  regions  on  both  sides  of  the  northern  end  of 
Lake  Maracaibo.  Its  favorite  abode  and  safe  retreat  is  in  the  extensive 
areas  grown  to  the  wild  pineapple  or  may  a  the  sharp  claws  of  which, 
curving  both  inward  and  outward,  render  progress  much  simpler  for 
armorclads  than  for  animals  less  protected.  The  armadillos,  the 
large  land  turtles,  and  certain  iguanas,  therefore,  are  found  associated 
in  these  areas  which  are  shunned  by  other  quadrupeds  except  where 
open  leads  or  trails  permit  easy  passage.  In  the  Empalado  Savannas, 
armadillos  were  found  inhabiting  more  accessible  places,  burrowing 
under  clumps  of  low  bushes,  or  in  crevices  of  rock  ledges.  Their  flesh 
is  eaten  by  all  classes  of  people  and  the  stripped  carcasses  may  be  seen 
hanging  in  the  market  almost  daily. 

Possibly  the  Venezuelan  nine-banded  armadillo  is  not  subspecifically 
identical  with  the  Brazilian  one  which  was  the  basis  of  the  name,  but 
this  can  best  be  settled  by  examination  of  the  type  which  is  still  existing 
(see  Thomas,  P.Z.S.,  p.  142,  Mch.  1911). 

Local  name  Cachicamo. 


42        FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Sotalia  sp.     Beaked  Dolphin. 

Small  schools  of  dolphins  were  repeatedly  observed  in  Lake  Mara- 
caibo  from  the  brackish  waters  at  the  northern  end  to  the  most  south- 
ern part  as  well  as  just  within  the  mouth  of  the  Catatumbo  River.  In 
most  instances,  they  seemed  to  move  rather  sluggishly,  appearing  and 
reappearing  at  the  surface  with  considerable  regularity  but  without 
the  vigor  and  dash  usually  displayed  by  more  northern  species.  Their 
color,  too,  is  dull  and  in  muddy  water  they  are  rather  inconspicuous. 

A  standing  order  for  specimens  was  placed  with  the  Chinese  and 
native  fishermen  of  Maracaibo,  but  they  did  not  succeed  in  capturing 
any  until  a  few  weeks  after  our  departure  when  two  full  grown  individ- 
uals were  secured.  Through  the  interest  of  U.  S.  Consul  Totten  and 
Sr.  Domingo  Betancourt  Sucre  of  Maracaibo,  the  skins  of  these  were 
shipped  in  salt  to  the  Museum  together  with  the  "beaks"  of  their 
skulls,  the  braincases  unfortunately  having  been  chopped  away  by 
the  fishermen.  Owing  to  the  lack  of  complete  skulls  and  to  the  con- 
fused state  of  knowledge  of  the  genus  Sotalia,  the  true  relationships  of 
the  Maracaibo  dolphins  cannot  well  be  determined  at  present.  It  is 
probable,  however,  that  complete  skeletons  will  be  obtained  later. 
The  teeth  in  our  specimens  are  slightly  more  numerous  than  usual, 
the  formulas  being  ffirff  and  |fri§.  Measurements  taken  from  a 
roughly  stuffed  skin  with  the  long  bony  beak  in  situ  are  as  follows: 
Total  length  1700  mm.;  front  of  dorsal  fin  to  end  of  snout  740;  front 
base  of  pectoral  to  end  of  snout  400;  basal  length  of  dorsal  240;  height 
of  dorsal  120;  anterior  base  to  tip  of  pectoral  260;  greatest  width  of 
pectoral  113;  angle  of  mouth  to  end  of  snout  220;  front  of  eye  to  angle 
of  mouth  38;  total  breadth  of  flukes  425;  girth  behind  pectorals  720. 

Local  name  Tornina. 

Odocoileus  gymnotis  Wiegmann.    South  American  White-tailed  Deer. 

Six  specimens.  Empalado  Savannas,  30  miles  east  of  Maracaibo, 
April  8-14,  1911. 

This  deer  ranges  throughout  most  of  the  drier  parts  of  the  region 
surrounding  Lake  Maracaibo,  but  it  is  much  more  abundant  in  the 
savannas  of  Empalado  than  in  any  other  locality  that  came  under  our 
notice.  This  is  perhaps  partly  due  to  the  greater  number  of  hunters 
that  pursue  all  kinds  of  game  for  food  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the 
lake.  A  few  tracks  were  seen  near  El  Panorama  and  thence  eastward, 
but  in  the  heart  of  the  savannas  they  were  excessively  abundant. 
Here  within  a  few  days  we  obtained  a  good  series  of  specimens  and  saw 


JAN.,  1912.     MAMMALS,  VENEZUELA  AND  COLOMBIA  —  OSGOOD.         43 

a  number  of  animals  daily.  The  region  affords  excellent  opportunity 
for  still  hunting,  but  since  the  deer  are  most  active  after  dark  and  our 
object  being  specimens  rather  than  sport,  we  adopted  the  method  of 
the  native  hunter,  that  is,  watching  from  a  point  of  vantage  in  a  tree. 

Although  there  is  an  abundance  of  other  food,  the  deer  prefer  the 
fruit  of  various  trees  which  they  glean  from  the  ground  and  since  the 
fruit  falls  little  by  little  from  day  to  day,  the  animals  form  the  habit  of 
going  regularly  from  tree  to  tree  in  search  of  the  tidbits.  The  trees 
being  often  widely  separated,  it  is  perfectly  simple  to  track  the  deer 
to  their  favorite  resorts  and  await  their  return.  In  April  the  trees  in 
bearing  and  therefore  most  resorted  to  were  a  large  beautiful  Pithe- 
colobium  known  as  the  carocaro  and  yielding  a  curled  fleshy  brown  pod 
and  an  unidentified  smaller  tree  with  rough  bark  and  glossy  leaves 
.known  as  the  moquillo,  bearing  scanty  clusters  of  green  drupes  somewhat 
resembling  short  plump  olives.  Our  watch  was  usually  from  5  to  9 
p.  M.  or  even  until  10  p.  M.,  at  which  hour  the  animals  were  still  moving. 
The  greatest  activity,  however,  seemed  to  be  between  six  and  eight. 

The  specimens  obtained  should  eventually  throw  considerable 
light  on  the  relationships  of  the  nominal  species  0.  gymnotis  and  O. 
savannarum,  but  without  material  from  the  savannas  of  Guiana  little 
can  be  done  at  present.  The  type  of  0.  gymnotis,  in  the  Berlin  Museum, 
is  said  to  have  come  from  Colombia  but  its  exact  source  is  unknown. 
As  the  earliest  name  applied  to  a  deer  coming  from  northern  South 
America,  it  is  more  than  likely  to  be  the  proper  one  for  our  specimens 
even  though  they  were  obtained  in  the  "savannas."  Moreover,  they 
lack  metatarsal  glands  and  have  practically  naked  ears,  characters 
supposed  to  distinguish  gymnotis  from  savannarum.  External  field 
measurements  of  an  eight  point  buck  are:  Total  length  1570;  tail 
vertebras  185;  hind  foot  392;  height  at  shoulder  930;  front  of  shoulder 
to  hip  810;  pectoral  girth  870;  circumference  of  neck  435. 

Mazama  americana  citus  subsp.  nov.     Venezuelan  Brocket. 

Type  from  El  Panorama,  Rio  Aurare,  eastern  shore  of  Lake  Mara- 
caibo,  Venezuela.  Adult  male.  No.  18776  Field  Museum  of  Natural 
History.  Collected  Jan.  19,  1911,  by  W.  H.  Osgood  and  S.  G.  Jewett. 

Characters.  Similar  to  M.  americana  (M.  nemorivaga  of  authors*), 
but  slightly  larger  with  especially  large  cheek  teeth  and  minor  cranial 

*  Moschus  americanus  Erxleben  1777  unquestionably  applies  to  the  same  animal  as  Cervus  nem- 
orivagus  Cuvier  1817  and  there  appears  to  be  no  reason  for  continuing  the  use  of  the  later  name.  The 
dubious  americanus  found  on  an  anterior  page  of  Erxleben's  work  applies  to  the  genus  Odocoileus 
and  therefore  has  no  interest  in  this  connection  except  among  those  not  only  making  the  strained 
attempt  to  give  it  nomenclatural  status,  but  also  failing  to  see  generic  distinction  between  Mazama 
and  Odocoileus. 


44       FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

peculiarities;  color  paler  and  more  grayish;  cheek  teeth  10  to  15  per 
cent  larger  than  in  M.  americana;  anterior  half  of  parieto-squamosal 
suture  abruptly  deflected  downward;  basioccipital  broad.  General 
color  of  upper  parts  grizzled  cinnamon  gradually  becoming  paler  on 
the  sides  where  the  punctulated  effect  is  diminished  and  along  the  not 
very  sharp  demarcation  between  upper  and  under  parts  where  the 
color  becomes  pale  fawn  or  nearly  ecru  drab ;  top  and  sides  of  neck  and 
sides  of  head  and  face  brownish  drab  gray  in  considerable  contrast 
to  general  body  color;  chin  and  upper  throat  buffy  white  becoming 
pale  drab  gray  or  ecru  drab  on  lower  throat  and  chest;  belly  buffy  white, 
this  continued  about  half  way  down  the  inner  sides  of  the  legs;  front 
of  forelegs  deep  brownish  fawn  merging  into  cinnamon  and  ochraceous 
buff  on  the  sides  and  about  the  hoofs;  hind  legs  below  the  hock  pale 
drab  all  around,  slightly  darker  in  front;  a  white  spot  at  tarsal  gland; 
tail  white  below,  pale  cinnamon  above,  the  hairs  drabbish  at  bases; 
ears  drabbish  gray,  the  outside  hairy  at  base  and  laterally  but  naked 
or  nearly  so  in  middle,  inside  and  anterior  edges  with  long  white  hairs ; 
a  prominent  white  spot  on  each  side  of  the  rhinarium  and  thence  bor- 
dering the  upper  lips ;  a  white  spot  also  above  each  eye ;  ocular  and  post- 
narial  areas  rather  indefinitely  cinnamomeous  in  contrast  to  more 
grayish  surrounding  parts. 

Measurements.  Type  and  adult  female,  respectively:  Total  length 
1,090,  i, 060;  tail  vertebrae  105,  115;  hind  foot  278,  280;  circumference 
of  chest  600,  560;  neck  240,  218;  shoulder  to  hip  550,  570;  height  at 
shoulder  545,  587.  Skulls  of  type,  one  adult  female  from  Empalado 
Savannas,  and  one  adult  female  M.  americana  from  British  Guiana,* 
respectively:  Greatest  length  189,  185,  (183);  zygomatic  breadth  80.6, 
81.8,  (76.3);  greatest  length  of  nasals  50.6,  59,  (51.5);  tip  of  premaxillas 
to  front  of  pm  1  55.5,  56.1,  (57.4);  least  breadth  of  basioccipital  16.6, 
1 6. i,  (14.5);  greatest  depth  of  squamosal  (from  top  of  meatus)  25,  25.5, 
(18.4);  breadth  of  braincase  57.4,  55,  (54.4);  maxillary  toothrow  61.5, 
58.8,  (51.5);  breadth  between  outer  sides  of  M  2  56.2,  56.3,  (52.1); 
pm  1  9.5  x  6,  9.9  x  7.6,  (7.6  x  6.8);  M  2  12.7  x  12.4,  12.1  x  12.2,  (10.2 
x  10.8). 

Remarks.  Although  there  is  considerable  color  difference,  perhaps 
the  principal  character  distinguishing  this  form  from  typical  americana 
is  the  large  size  of  the  cheek  teeth.  To  represent  americana,  one  skin 
and  two  skulls  from  the  vicinity  of  Georgetown,  British  Guiana  have 
been  available.  Four  specimens  of  the  new  form  were  taken  by  our 
party:  The  type,  an  adult  male;  a  slightly  younger  female  which  was 

*  Measurements  of  M.  americana  in  parentheses. 


JAN.,  1912.     MAMMALS,  VENEZUELA  AND  COLOMBIA  —  OSGOOD.         45 

accompanying  it  when  both  were  killed  near  El  Panorama;  a  second 
female,  fully  adult,  taken  on  the  savannas  of  Empalado;  and  a  spotted 
fawn  which  had  been  kept  some  days  as  a  pet  at  El  Panorama  but 
obligingly  died  the  night  before  our  arrival  there.  Specimens  from  Bonda 
and  Guairaca,  Colombia,  seem  referable  to  the  new  form;  likewise  two 
adults  from  Dibulla,  Colombia,  loaned  by  the  Museum  of  Compara- 
tive Zoology.  All  the  skulls  examined  except  very  aged  ones  show 
traces  of  sockets  of  upper  canines  and  it  seems  probable  that  these 
teeth  are  normally  present  in  the  young.  In  the  skull  of  the  spotted 
fawn  above-mentioned,  the  canines  are  well-developed. 

The  tarsal  gland  in  our  three  specimens  is  perfectly  obvious  in  the 
dried  skins,  situated  in  a  tuft  of  long  hairs  on  the  inner  side  of  the 
hock,  the  central  hairs  which  cover  it  being  pure  white  except  at  the 
bases  which  are  stained  by  sebaceous  secretion.  In  the  only  Guiana 
specimen  available,  no  traces  of  the  gland  are  to  be  seen  although  it  is 
possible  they  may  have  been  destroyed  in  the  preparation  of  the  skin. 
Fitzinger  and  Lydekker,  following  him,  state  that  this  gland  is  not 
present  in  M.  nemorivaga,  but  it  is  described  and  figured  by  Pocock 
(P.  Z.  S.,  p.  962,  fig.  139,  1910)  from  a  specimen  which  he  believed  "to 
have  been  correctly  determined."  Its  source  is  unmentioned. 

These  little  matacanes  are  quite  abundant  a  short  distance  from  the 
shore  of  Lake  Maracaibo  and  thence  eastward  to  the  Empalado  Sav- 
annas where  they  are  much  less  numerous  than  the  large  deer  (Odocoileus) 
to  which  the  Spanish  word  venado,  or  deer,  is  exclusively  applied.  Like 
the  larger  deer,  they  feed  upon  the  fallen  fruits  of  various  large  trees, 
the  "moquillo,"  the  "carocaro"  (Pithecolobium) ,  and  the  so-called 
ebony  being  the  particular  ones  in  bearing  at  the  time  of  our  visits. 
Our  specimens  were  killed  with  buckshot,  two  as  they  came  to  feed  at 
the  foot  of  a  large  ebony  tree  and  the  third  as  it  jumped  and  galloped 
excitedly  for  cover  when  suddenly  surprised  feeding  under  the  brow  of 
a  low  ridge  in  the  savannas. 

Another  brocket  called  locho,  perhaps  M.  rufa,  is  described  by  the 
natives  as  larger  and  more  reddish  and  of  rather  rare  occurrence  in  the 
region. 

Local  name  Matacan. 

?  Mazama  bricenii  Thomas.     Merida  Brocket. 

Tracks  and  fresh  signs  of  a  small  deer,  possibly  of  this  species,  were 
seen  in  rather  rare  instances  on  the  upper  slopes  of  Paramo  de  Tama. 


46       FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Tayassu  torvum  Bangs.     Collared  Peccary. 

Two  specimens,  Maracaibo. 

Peccaries  are  fairly  common  in  the  vicinity  of  Maracaibo,  but  al- 
though many  tracks  and  at  least  one  adult  animal  were  seen,  no  speci- 
mens were  obtained  except  two  little  ones  only  a  few  days  old  which 
were  purchased  alive  in  Maracaibo.  These  were  led  into  my  hotel 
room  one  morning  trotting  at  the  end  of  a  string  like  a  pair  of  puppies. 
I  kept  them  alive  for  a  few  days  in  a  corner  of  the  room  screened  off 
by  a  woven  wire  bed  spring.  This  was  not  altogether  sufficient  and 
had  to  be  covered  at  the  top,  for  much  to  my  surprise,  the  little  squealers 
were  able  to  climb  over.  They  would  get  in  the  angle,  put  their  backs 
against  the  wall  and  their  little  hoofs  in  the  meshes  of  wire  and  quickly 
scramble  to  the  top  and  leap  three  and  a  half  feet  to  the  floor.  At 
other  times  they  did  not  seriously  object  to  being  handled,  but  when 
stopped  in  these  attempts  to  escape,  they  snapped  viciously  with  their 
tiny  needle-pointed  tusks.  I  gave  them  a  plate  of  milk,  but  although  I 
rubbed  their  noses  in  it  and  otherwise  forced  it  upon  them,  it  was  some 
time  before  they  understood  it,  although  squealing  with  hunger  all  the 
while.  Finally  the  larger  more  active  one  managed  to  suck  up  a  little 
but  the  other  seemed  content  to  stand  in  the  plate  or  to  slide  around  in 
the  milk  spilled  on  the  floor,  constantly  getting  tangled  up  in  his  own 
umbilicus  which  dragged  after  him.  Later  they  learned  to  eat  rolled 
oats  and  water  and  sopped  around  in  it  with  contented  little  grunts, 
which  were  much  more  agreeable  than  the  plaintive  squealing  with 
which  they  had  introduced  themselves.- 

The  color  of  these  young  peccaries,  which  were  eventually  made 
into  specimens,  is  bright  rufescent  tawny  thinly  mixed  with  black, 
except  a  line  from  the  occiput  to  the  rump  which  is  intense,  sharply 
defined  black. 

The  use  of  the  name  torvum  for  these  specimens  is  necessarily  provis- 
ional, since  they  are  much  too  young  for  satisfactory  identification. 

Local  name  Bdquiro. 

Tapirus  terrestris  Linnaeus.     Tapir. 

One  specimen  (skull),  Empalado  Savannas. 

Contrary  to  our  expectations,  tapirs  were  found  in  relatively  arid 
lowlands  in  regions  of  rather  thin  forest  and  little  plant  life  of  a  succu- 
lent character.  Tracks  were  seen  in  the  sandy  bottom  of  a  dry  quebrada 
a  few  miles  west  of  El  Guayabal  near  Cucuta,  Colombia,  and  numerous 
others  in  a  somewhat  similar  place  in  the  Empalado  Savannas  east  of 


JAN.,  1912.     MAMMALS,  VENEZUELA  AND  COLOMBIA  —  OSGOOD.         47 

Maracaibo.  At  the  latter  place  a  fine  adult  female  had  been  killed 
recently  by  Don  Alberto  Tinedo  and  we  were  able  to  obtain  its  skull. 
My  only  sight  of  one  of  the  living  animals  was  a  brief  glimpse  at  about 
9  o'clock  at  night  while  on  the  watch  in  a  hammock  strung  between 
bamboos  at  the  edge  of  a  dry  quebrada.  My  attention  was  attracted 
by  its  heavy  tread  and  the  sharp  crack  of  breaking  sticks,  and  after  a 
few  moments  of  straining  my  eyes  in  the  dim  moonlight  I  saw  the  ani- 
mal clearly  outlined  for  a  moment  as  it  passed  between  two  trees.  It 
was  moving  deliberately  and  scarcely  twenty  yards  away,  but  its  posi- 
tion was  such  that  I  was  unable  to  shoot. 
Local  name  Danta. 

Sciurus   versicolor  Thomas.     Varicolored  Squirrel. 

Five  specimens,  El  Guayabal,  10  miles  north  of  San  Jose  de  Cucuta, 
Colombia,  March  12-17,  1911. 

Reference  of  squirrels  from  this  region  to  S.  versicolor  is  necessarily 
provisional.  They  differ  from  typical  versicolor  in  somewhat  increased 
black  on  the  end  of  the  tail  and  perhaps,  therefore,  should  be  regarded 
as  intergrades  between  versicolor  and  zulice. 

The  great  variability  of  the  squirrels  of  this  group  often  has  been 
remarked,  and,  while  this  is  undeniably  justified  to  a  certain  degree,  it 
seems  probable  that  with  exact  knowledge  of  physiographic  and  cli- 
matic conditions  and  good  series  of  accurately  labeled  specimens,  it 
will  be  found  that  this  variation  is  not  so  much  fortuitous  or  individual 
as  it  is  local  and  environmental. 

Squirrels  were  fairly  common  in  the  rather  open  forest  along  the 
quebradas  a  few  miles  west  of  El  Guayabal.  During  our  visit  they 
were  marauding  the  crops  of  our  host,  Senor  Nino,  and  several  were 
shot  in  the  act  of  carrying  away  big  yellow  ears  of  corn. 

Sciurus  versicolor  zuliae   Osgood.     Zulia  Squirrel. 

Five  specimens,  El  Panorama,  Rio  Aurare  (2),  Shore  of  Lake  Mara- 
caibo opposite  Maracaibo  (i),  Empalado  Savannas  (i),  Encontrados 
(i  H.  F.  Raven.) 

Squirrels  are  sparingly  distributed  in  the  dry  open  woods  on  the 
northeast  side  of  Lake  Maracaibo,  extending  eastward  at  least  to  the 
wooded  quebradas  of  the  Empalado  Savannas.  At  El  Panorama, 
during  eight  days  constantly  in  the  field,  I  saw  but  one,  and  on  the 
savannas  for  the  same  time,  also  one.  On  the  immediate  shore  of 
Lake  Maracaibo  likewise  they  are  scarce.  The  single  specimen  ob- 


48       FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

tained  there  was  shot  from  a  coco  palm  and  its  stomach  was  well  filled 
with  coconut. 

At  Orope,  the  type  locality  of  S.  v.  zulia,  the  climate  is  so  much 
more  humid  and  the  vegetation  so  much  more  luxuriant  than  at  the 
northern  end  of  Lake  Maracaibo,  that  considerable  difference  in  the 
animal  life  should  obtain.  However,  it  does  not  seem  advisable  at 
present  to  attempt  the  separation  of  the  squirrels  of  these  regions. 
Those  from  the  more  arid  region  have  somewhat  lighter  heads,  more 
intensely  ferruginous  feet,  and  broader,  more  abundantly  haired  tails. 

Sciurus  griseogena  tamae  subsp.  nov.     Tama  Squirrel. 

Type  from  Paramo  de  Tama,  Colombia.  Alt.  6,000-7,000  ft.  No. 
18736  Field  Museum  of  Natural  History.  Male  adult.  Collected 
Feb.  14,  1911,  by  W.  H.  Osgood  and  S.  G.  Jewett. 

Characters.  Similar  to  Sciurus  g.  meridensis,  but  paler  colored 
throughout;  general  color  of  upperparts  only  slightly  darker  than  in 
S.  quebradensis,  but  more  rufescent  on  shoulders;  tail  and  other  parts 
quite  different.  Upper  parts  mixed  clay  color  and  blackish;  shoulders 
heavily  suffused  with  ochraceous  continuous  with  the  same  but  slightly 
heightened  color  on  the  outer  sides  of  the  forelegs;  postauricular  spot 
cream  buff  bordered  with  ochraceous  buff.  Underparts  bright  tawny 
ochraceous  and  white,  the  latter  variable  in  extent,  generally  extending 
medially  from  the  throat  to  the  groin,  widening  on  the  chest  and  extend- 
ing to  the  forelegs;  fore  and  hind  feet  tawny  ochraceous,  on  the  meta- 
podials  more  or  less  mixed  with  dusky;  upper  side  of  tail  about  as  in 
S.g.  meridensis,  base  (2  inches)  grizzled,  middle  (4 inches)  clear  ochraceous 
buff,  tip  (1^2  in.)  black;  under  side  of  tail  correspondingly  colored  but 
middle  part  strongly  mixed  with  blackish. 

Skull  practically  as  in  griseogena  and  meridensis;  rostrum  apparently 
a  trifle  more  attenuate. 

Measurements.  Average  of  four  topotypes:  Total  length  396 
(385-416);  head  and  body  216  (209-223);  tail  vertebras  180  (176-193); 
hind  foot  (c.  u.)  54  (53-55).  Skull  of  type:  Greatest  length  53;  basilar 
length  39.3;  zygomatic  breadth  30.5;  nasals  16.7;  interorbital  breadth 
17;  diastema  13;  maxillary  toothrow  8.6. 

Remarks.  This  form  is  most  closely  allied  to  Sciurus  g.  meridensis 
but  is  well  distinguished  by  its  general  lighter  color  and  the  extensive 
white  markings  on  the  under  parts.  These  white  markings  are  variable, 
but  three  of  the  four  specimens  taken  have  them  highly  developed. 

The  extensive  dense  forests  on  the  upper  slopes  of  the  Paramo  de 
Tama  no  doubt  harbor  considerable  numbers  of  these  squirrels,  but  in 


JAN.,  1912.     MAMMALS,  VENEZUELA  AND  COLOMBIA  —  OSGOOD.         49 

any  particular  locality  they  are  scarce  and  difficult  to  obtain.  They 
frequent  the  tops  of  trees  most  of  the  time  none  being  seen  on  or  near 
the  ground.  Their  extreme  shyness  was  remarkable,  and  unless  they 
were  suddenly  surprised,  it  was  impossible  to  get  within  gunshot  of 
them. 

Local  name  Ardita,  variant  of  the  Spanish  ardilla. 

Epimys  alexandrinus  (Geoffrey).     Roof  Rat. 

One  specimen,  El  Panorama,  Rio  Aurare. 

Rats  are  perhaps  more  abundant  in  the  seaport  of  Maracaibo  than 
in  the  small  interior  villages  but  they  are  quite  generally  distributed, 
even  extending  to  isolated  houses  near  regular  routes  of  travel. 

Oryzomys  meridensis  Thomas.     Merida  Oryzomys. 

Nineteen  specimens,  Paramo  de  Tama,  Feb.  i2-Mch.  6. 

The  habitat  of  these  large  long-tailed  mice  is  in  the  cool  depths  of 
the  heavy  forest  which  prevails  on  the  high  mountain  slopes.  Here  they 
live  under  logs  and  roots  and  about  the  mass  of  vegetable  refuse  cover- 
ing the  ground.  Most  of  our  specimens  were  caught  in  special  size 
mouse  traps  but  these  are  not  quite  strong  enough  for  them  and  a  fair 
percentage  escaped. 

The  series  shows  considerable  uniformity  in  color  and  agrees  with  a 
single  typical  specimen  of  meridensis  but  exhibits  a  few  slight  differences 
from  a  series  representing  0.  m.  maculiventer .  The  light  markings  of 
the  under  parts  are  less  extensive  than  in  maculiventer  and  more  nearly 
pure  white.  The  light  inguinal  area  is  much  reduced  and  in  some 
specimens  is  practically  nonexistent.  It  seems  possible,  therefore, 
that  maculiventer  may  be  recognizable  as  a  slight  subspecies  of  meri- 
densis and  it  remains  to  be  seen  whether  or  not  both  are  subspecies  of 
albigularis. 

Average  measurements  of  10  adults  are:  Total  length  303.3  (282- 
326);  tail  vertebrae  161.7  (145-175);  hind  foot  (c.  u.)  33.4  (32-35). 

Oryzomys  griseolus  sp.  nov.     Grayish  Pigmy  Oryzomys. 

Type  from  Paramo  de  Tama,  head  of  Tachira  River,  Venezuela. 
Alt.  6,000-7,000  ft.  No.  18635  Field  Museum  of  Natural  History. 
Male  adult.  Collected  March  i,  1911,  by  W.  H.  Osgood  and  S.  G. 
Jewett. 

Characters.  Most  similar  to  Oryzomys  vegetus  Bangs  but  slightly 
smaller  and  much  duller  in  color;  upper  parts  with  an  abundant  mixture 


50       FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

of  black-tipped  hairs  producing  a  somewhat  grizzled  effect  most  pro- 
nounced on  the  forehead  and  sides  of  face  where  fulvous  is  minimized 
and  gray  predominates.  Ground  color  of  upper  parts  pale  clay  color 
much  duller  than  the  ochraceous  or  ochraceous  buff  of  the  related  forms 
vegetus,  tenuipes,  humilior,  and  navus;  a  small  preauricular  tuft  of  ochra- 
ceous-tipped  hairs  usually  present.  Under  parts  mostly  between  clay 
color  and  ochraceous  buff  almost  or  quite  concealing  the  slaty  bases  of  the 
hairs;  middle  of  chin  and  throat  white  or  whitish  to  bases  of  hairs; 
feet  white;  outer  sides  of  tarsal  joints  broadly  dusky;  tail  dus'ky  above, 
dull  whitish  below.  Mammas  3-3  =  6. 

Skull  similar  to  that  of  0.  vegetus;  braincase  deeper  and  more  in- 
flated; rostrum  slightly  more  slender;  zygomatic  plate  well  developed, 
projecting  forward  farther  than  in  related  forms;  palatine  slits  long, 
extending  posteriorly  to  slightly  beyond  plane  of  front  of  first  cheek  tooth. 

Measurements.  Average  of  7  specimens :  Total  length  183(173-199); 
head  and  body  81  (76-85);  tail  vertebrae  102  (96-114);  hind  foot  (c.  u.) 
21.7  (20-23).  Skull  of  type:  Greatest  length  23;  basilar  length  17.1; 
postpalatal  length  7.4;  palatine  slits  4.1;  zygomatic  breadth  12.3; 
interorbital  constriction  3.6;  width  of  zygomatic  plate  2;  diastema  5.7; 
maxillary  toothrow  3.2. 

Remarks.  This  species  belongs  to  the  group  of  small  slenderly  formed 
mice  to  which  the  subgeneric  name  Oligoryzomys  has  been  applied. 
Although  geographically  nearer  to  0.  dry  as  humilior,  it  shows  greater 
resemblance  to  0.  vegetus  of  Panama,  especially  in  the  extent  of  white 
on  the  throat  and  in  the  forwardly  projecting  zygomatic  plate.  0. 
navus  of  northern  Colombia  is  brighter  colored  and  has  white  under 
parts.  O.  tenuipes  of  Merida,  which  also  belongs  to  this  group,  is  paler 
throughout,  the  head  and  ears,  especially,  being  more  ochraceous. 
These  appear  to  be  the  only  described  forms  with  which  griseolus 
requires  close  comparison  and  its  grayish  head  is  sufficient  to  distinguish 
it  from  any  of  them. 

Our  series  of  thirteen  specimens  was  obtained  in  and  about  small 
grassy  swamps  in  clearings  on  the  upper  slopes  of  Paramo  de  Tama  on 
the  Venezuelan  side  of  the  Tachira  River.  Here  they  were  not  common 
and  a  line  of  50  carefully  placed  traps  seldom  yielded  more  than  two 
specimens  in  one  night. 

Thomasomys  hylophilus  sp.  nov.     Forest  Vesper  Rat. 

Type  from  Paramo  de  Tama,  head  of  Rio  Tachira,  Santander, 
Colombia.  No.  18583  Field  Museum  of  Natural  History.  Adult  male. 
Collected  Feb.  18,  1911,  by  W.  H.  Osgood  and  S.  G.  Jewett. 


JAN.,  1912.     MAMMALS,  VENEZUELA  AND  COLOMBIA  —  OSGOOD.         51 

Characters.  Somewhat  similar  to  T.  laniger  and  T.  monochromes, 
but  larger  with  relatively  small  ears  and  a  very  long  white-tipped  tail. 
Pelage  very  long,  soft,  and  lusterless;  upper  parts  tawny  olive  rather 
heavily  mixed  with  blackish,  occasionally  with  a  heavy  concentration 
of  blackish  on  middle  of  back;  ears  thinly  haired  or  nearly  naked  dis- 
tally,  a  tuft  of  soft  black  or  blackish  hairs  at  their  anterior  bases  and 
extending  backward  over  the  anterior  third  of  the  ear  conch;  sides  and 
face  wood  brown  to  tawny  olive;  a  narrow  and  indistinct  blackish  eye 
ring;  under  parts  cinnamon  overlying  slate  color;  fore  feet  silvery  gray; 
forearm  blackish;  hind  feet  whitish  drab,  tarsal  joints  blackish  brown, 
digits  white ;  tail  blackish  above  and  below  except  a  well-marked  white 
tip. 

Skull  with  ample  braincase,  the  parietals  slightly  bulging;  rostrum 
rather  narrow  and  slightly  depressed;  front  border  of  zygomatic  plate 
somewhat  receding;  supraorbital  border  rounded  anteriorly,  very  slightly 
angled  posteriorly;  palatine  slits  nearly  or  quite  reaching  plane  of  first 
molars;  mesopterygoid  fossa  extending  anteriorly  to  plane  of  middle  of 
last  molar;  upper  incisors  with  relatively  little  recurvature. 

Measurements.  Type:  Total  length  273;  head  and  body  126; 
tail  vertebrae  147;  hind  foot  26.5.  Average  of  10  adult  topotypes: 
261  (240-275);  120  (108-126);  141.6  (132-152);  25.8  (25-27). 

Skull  of  type:  Greatest  length  30.5;  basilar  length  24.5;  zygomatic 
breadth  16.3;  interorbital  constriction  4.7;  length  of  nasals  10.8;  width 
of  nasals  1.3-3.7;  postpalatal  length  11.3;  diastema  8.3;  palatine  slits 
6.1  x  2.5;  maxillary  too  throw  5.1. 

Remarks.  Although  well  characterized  otherwise,  this  species  is 
to  be  recognized  most  readily  by  its  long  white-tipped  tail.  The  amount 
of  apical  white  varies  from  a  mere  pencil  to  nearly  two  inches  and  is 
totally  absent  in  only  one  of  a  series  of  twenty-nine  specimens.  These 
were  found  associated  with  Oryzomys  meridensis  in  the  depths  of  the 
forests  on  the  upper  slopes  of  the  paramo  living  among  the  innumerable 
galleries  naturally  formed  under  moss-covered  roots,  logs,  and  debris. 

Rhipidomys  fulviventer  Thomas.     Buff-bellied  Vesper  Rat. 

Two  specimens,  Paramo  de  Tama,  Venezuela. 

The  under  parts  of  these  specimens  are  quite  sharply  distinguished 
from  the  upper  parts  and  although  there  is  slightly  more  buffy  suffusion 
across  the  middle  of  the  belly  than  elsewhere,  the  general  color  from  the 
chin  to  the  vent  is  creamy  white  rather  than  fulvous.  Still  it  cannot 
be  called  pure  white  and  it  may  be  within  the  variation  of  this  species 
which  is  described  as  "fulvous  or  even  buff,  the  line  of  demarcation 


52        FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

scarcely  marked."  Mr.  Thomas  has  kindly  compared  one  of  our 
specimens  with  the  type  without  finding  differences  that  would  warrant 
separation. 

Microxus  bogotensis  Thomas.     Bogota  Microxus. 

Eighteen  specimens,  Paramo  de  Tama,  head  of  Tachira  River, 
Colombia  and  Venezuela. 

These  mice  were  taken  in  small  numbers  in  the  depths  of  the  forest 
on  the  Colombia  side  of  the  Tachira  but  were  much  more  common  in 
open  grassy  swamps  on  the  slopes  of  the  Venezuela  side  of  the  river. 
In  fresh  specimens,  the  pointed  noses  and  rather  small  ears  combined 
with  the  dense  dark-colored  fur,  give  them  quite  a  soricine  appearance. 
Their  identification  as  M.  bogotensis  has  been  substantiated  by  the 
submission  of  specimens  to  Mr.  Thomas  of  the  British  Museum.  Aver- 
age external  measurements  of  ten  adults  are :  Total  length  1 50  (145-156) ; 
head  and  body  85.4  (82-91) ;  tail  vertebras  63.4  (61-67) !  hind  foot  (c.  u.) 
19.1  (18-20). 

Zygodontomys  thomasi  Allen.     Thomas  Zygodontomys. 

Seven  specimens,  El  Panorama,  Rio  Aurare  (5)  and  Empalado 
Savannas  (2). 

Although  trapping  was  done  in  various  other  places,  specimens  of 
this  species  were  taken  only  on  the  low  ground  near  the  dry  bed  of  the 
Rio  Aurare  among  loose  sticks,  logs,  and  drift.  The  majority  of  them 
are  practically  indistinguishable  from  typical  thomasi.  Two  individuals, 
although  apparently  mature,  are  decidedly  smaller  than  the  others, 
but  it  is  difficult  to  believe  this  to  be  of  specific  significance. 

Although  formerly  associated  with  Oryzomys,  the  species  of  this 
genus  seem  to  have  much  in  common  with  A  kodon,  but  their  true  posi- 
tion in  the  involved  series  of  Neotropical  rodents  is  doubtless  yet  to  be 
ascertained. 

Zygodontomys  thomasi   sanctaemartas  Allen.     Santa  Marta  Zygo- 
dontomys. 

Two  specimens,  El  Guayabal,  10  miles  N.  of  San  Jose  de  Cucuta, 
Colombia. 

These  mice,  caught  at  the  edge  of  a  cornfield  after  much  fruitless 
trapping,  were  practically  the  only  small  mammals  secured  at  this 
locality.  The  single  adult  male  agrees  in  color  with  lighter  examples 
of  sanctcemartcB  from  the  type  locality,  but  its  skull  is  very  large  and 


JAN.,  1912.     MAMMALS,  VENEZUELA  AND  COLOMBIA  —  OSGOOD.         53 

heavy.  It  may  represent  a  separable  form,  but  for  the  present  it  seems 
best  to  regard  it  as  an  exceptionally  large  and  aged  male  of  sancta- 
martce.  The  relation  of  this  form  to  Z.  thomasi  is  evidently  very  close, 
sanctamarta  being  characterized  only  by  slightly  larger  size  and  somewhat 
more  elongated  skull.  For  the  privilege  of  examining  topotypes  of  both 
forms,  I  am  indebted  to  Dr.  J.  A.  Allen  of  the  American  Museum  of 
Natural  History. 

Chilomys  fumeus  sp.  nov.     Smoky  Chilomys. 

Type  from  Paramo  de  Tama,  head  of  Tachira  River,  Santander, 
Colombia.  Alt.  6,000-7,000  ft.  No.  18690  Field  Museum  of  Natural 
History.  Male  adult.  Collected  Feb.  18,  1911,  by  W.  H.  Osgood 
and  S.  G.  Jewett. 

Characters.  Similar  to  Chilomys  instans  as  described,  but  end  of 
tail,  digits  of  front  feet,  and  distal  phalanges  of  digits  of  hind  feet  white; 
size  slightly  smaller.  Skull  differing  in  slight  details  of  measurement 
but  in  general  similar  to  that  of  C.  instans.  Color  of  upper  and  under 
parts  practically  uniform,  the  hairs  dark  slate  color  except  for  a  narrow 
tipping  of  silvery  hair  brown  or  broccoli  brown ;  face  between  nose  and 
eyes  blackish;  feet  brownish;  toes,  at  least  the  distal  phalanges,  white; 
tail  brownish  above  and  below  except  the  terminal  inch  which  is  white 
with  a  few  irregular  underlying  blotches  of  brownish;  a  bright  buff 
pectoral  spot  (in  one  specimen)  continuous  with  a  white  line  from  throat 
to  middle  of  belly. 

Measurements.  Type  and  topotype,  respectively:  Total  length 
211,  206;  head  and  body  90,  86;  tail  vertebrae  121,  120;  hind  foot  (c.  u.) 
22,  23.  Skulls  of  same :  Greatest  length  23.8,  23.4;  basilar  length  19.1, 
18.9;  postpalatal  length  8.8,  8.4;  zygomatic  breadth  13.2,  12.8;  braincase 
12.8  x  ii. i,  12.5  x  11.4;  interorbital  constriction  4.6,  4.8;  width  of  zygo- 
matic plate  2.1,  2;  diastema  6.7,  6.5;  maxillary  toothrow  3.1,  3.15. 

Remarks.  Only  two  specimens  of  this  peculiar  mouse  were  obtained 
during  some  twenty  days'  trapping  in  the  forests  about  the  head  of  the 
Tachira.  It  inhabits  the  same  dark  damp  depths  of  the  forest  as 
Thomasomy  shylophilus,and  from  its  peculiar  plumbeous  color,  white- 
tipped  tail,  and  slender  form  was  at  first  believed  to  represent  the  im- 
mature of  that  species. 

Material  is  not  at  hand  for  satisfactory  discussion  of  the  generic 
characters  of  Chilomys  from  a  comparative  standpoint,  but  several 
peculiarities  not  mentioned  heretofore  may  be  noted.  The  pollex  is 
extremely  rudimentary,  and  the  soles  of  the  hind  feet  lack  imbrications, 
the  subdigital  pads  being  relatively  large  and  the  interspaces  smooth  and 


54       FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

without  scales;  the  upper  side  of  the  hind  feet,  however,  is  unusually 
scaly  and  the  scales  being  dark  colored  with  lighter  margins  and  but 
slightly  overlaid  by  hairs,  they  are  quite  obvious.  The  skull  is  peculiar 
in  shape  and  the  dorsal  view  reminds  rather  forcibly  of  immature  skulls 
of  Evotomys.  Aside  from  the  forwardly  projecting  incisors,  there  are 
certain  slight  dental  peculiarities  not  easily  described,  but  it  may  be 
mentioned  that  the  second  upper  molar  is  as  wide  as  long  and  its  outer 
side  is  markedly  external  to  the  outer  sides  of  Ml  and  ML  Another 
unusual  feature  is  a  pair  of  swollen  ridges  lying  on  either  side  of  the 
palatine  foramina  and  in  front  of  Ml.  So  far  as  I  am  aware,  with 
the  exception  of  the  type  in  the  British  Museum,  no  other  specimens  of 
this  interesting  genus  have  been  recorded. 

Sigmomys  alstoni  Thomas.     False  Cotton  Rat. 

Seven  specimens,  El  Panorama,  Rio  Aurare  (4),  Empalado  Sav- 
annas (3). 

These  were  taken  about  the  roots  of  cacti  and  small  thorny 
shrubs  and  among  crumbling  exposed  rocks  in  decidedly  dry  situations 
but  always  closely  adjacent  to  grassy  openings.  They  are  evidently 
diurnal  as  practically  all  were  caught  in  the  day  time.  The  exact  type 
locality  of  this  species  is  unknown  but  specimens  from  Cumana  are 
regarded  as  typical  by  Thomas.*  Whether  our  specimens  differ  from 
these  cannot  be  determined  except  by  comparison. 

Heteromys    anomalus    brachialis  subsp.    nov.     White-armed  Spiny 
Pocket  Mouse. 

Type  from  El  Panorama,  Rio  Aurare,  eastern  shore  of  Lake  Mara- 
caibo,  Venezuela.  No.  18623  Field  Museum  of  Natural  History.  Adult 
female.  Collected  Jan.  19,  1911,  by  W.  H.  Osgood  and  S.  G.  Jewett. 

Characters.  Similar  to  Heteromys  anomalus  jesupi  but  upper  parts 
paler  and  front  legs  nearly  all  white;  dark  marking  on  outer  side  of 
arms  reduced  to  a  few  scattered  grayish  hairs  widely  separated  from 
the  main  body  color  by  pure  white.  Ground  color  of  upper  parts  drab 
somewhat  brightened  in  middorsal  region  by  wood  brown  and  cinna- 
mon; rump  grayish  drab  or  hair  brown  continuing  along  outer  side  of 
hind  legs  to  calcaneum;  feet  white;  tail  grayish  drab  above,  white  below; 
ears  narrowly  edged  with  whitish. 

Skull  practically  as  in  H.  anomalus  and  H.  a.  jesupi. 

Measurements.     Type:     Total  length    284;   head  -and  body    134; 

*  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  (7),  VIII,  p.  150,  footnote,  1901. 


JAN.,  1912.     MAMMALS,  VENEZUELA  AND  COLOMBIA  —  OSGOOD.         55 

tail  vertebras  150;  hind  foot  (c.  u.)  34.  Skull  of  type:  Greatest  length 
35.2;  basilar  length  25.5;  zygomatic  breadth  16.1;  interorbital  breadth 
7.3;  length  of  nasals  14.2;  width  of  nasals  2.5-4.6;  width  of  braincase 
14.8;  maxillary  toothrow,  crowns  4.8,  alveoli  5.6. 

Remarks.  With  a  small  series  of  each  of  the  forms  of  the  anomalus 
series  before  me,  it  is  obvious  that  the  one  here  described  is  sufficiently 
characterized  for  recognition,  although  it  may  be  found  to  have  a  limit- 
ed range.  Specimens  from  San  Julian,  Venezuela,  in  the  collection  of 
the  U.  S.  National  Museum,  supposed  to  represent  " melanoleucus ," 
seem  to  be  tending  slightly  toward  brachialis  but  are  much  nearer  typical 
anomalus.  Since  the  original  description  of  melanoleucus  states  "legs 
and  feet  black"  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  the  type  is  of  the  dark 
form  of  eastern  Venezuela  and  Trinidad.  The  majority  of  the  speci- 
mens of  H.  a.  jesupi  seem  to  be  almost  or  quite  as  dark  as  anomalus, 
differing  mainly  in  the  white  inner  sides  of  the  arms. 

Our  specimens,  six  in  number,  were  obtained  under  may  as  and  thorny 
shrubs  which  form  hedgelike  borders  to  the  trails  leading  in  various 
directions  from  El  Panorama. 

Dasyprocta  rubrata  f  lavescens  Thomas.     Yellow-rumped  Agouti. 

One  specimen,  El  Panorama,  Rio  Aurare,  Jan.  23. 

This  example,  an  adult  male,  was  shot  as  it  crossed  a  trail  one  even- 
ing just  before  dark.  A  few  tracks  of  others  were  seen  in  various  places, 
but  with  the  one  exception,  the  animals  themselves  succeeded  in  evading 
observation. 

No  material  is  available  for  comparison,  but  judging  from  descriptions 
our  specimen  differs  but  little  from  typical  flavescens,  possibly  being 
slightly  larger  and  darker. 

Local  name  Picure. 

Dasyprocta  variegata  colombiana  Bangs.     Colombian  Agouti. 

A  skull  of  a  young  Dasyprocta,  apparently  of  this  .species,  was  ob- 
tained in  Maracaibo  from  a  market  hunter  who  said  it  came  from  the 
Limon  River  some  20  miles  west  of  Maracaibo. 

Agouti  sierrae  Thomas.     Mountain  Paca. 

Said  to  be  fairly  common  in  certain  heavily  wooded  parts  of  the 
mountains.  We  did  not  find  it  on  Paramo  de  Tama  although  it  is 
well  known  to  the  natives  there. 

Local  names  Lapa  and  Tinaja. 


56       FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Hydrochoerus  hydrochaeris  (Linnseus).     Capybara. 

Six  specimens,  El  Panorama,  Rio  Aurare. 

A  series  of  shallow  ponds  near  the  Tinedo  hato  were  the  resort  of 
several  families  of  capybaras  and  during  our  stay  from  one  to  a  dozen 
individuals  were  almost  always  to  be  found  there.  The  ponds  were 
surrounded  by  mangroves  and  heavy  thickets  of  a  tall  clustering  fern 
under  which  the  animals  retreated  when  alarmed.  Once  within  the 
intricate  depths  of  this  cover  they  were  almost  as  safely  concealed  as 
the  rails  and  gallinules  which  frequently  accompanied  them.  Although 
they  fled  precipitately  upon  sighting  a  man,  they  could  hardly  be 
called  shy  since  they  fed  daily  within  a  fourth  of  a  mile  of  the  hato 
where  people  were  constantly  coming  and  going.  Moreover,  they  paid 
not  the  slightest  attention  to  cattle  and  domestic  hogs  which  wallowed 
in  the  same  ponds  with  them.  So  far  as  could  be  observed  their  food 
at  this  time  consisted  principally  of  a  fine  slimy  algas  forming  a  thick 
mat  on  the  bottom  of  the  ponds.  They  seemed  to  be  quite  diurnal  and 
were  most  often  seen  feeding  in  glaring  midday  standing  belly  deep  or 
with  only  their  heads  and  hips  above  water,  alternately  rooting  in  the 
bottom  and  raising  their  heads  to  chew  contentedly  and  look  about. 
As  they  stand  in  the  water,  they  have  a  decidedly  saddle-backed  ap- 
pearance and  the  general  shape  of  the  body  is  that  of  a  common  guinea 
pig  on  a  large  scale. 

The  specimens  secured  range  from  quite  young  to  fully  adult. 
Measurements  of  an  adult  male  are:  Total  length  1,000  mm.;  circum- 
ference of  chest  730;  of  belly  at  middle  900;  of  neck  445;  hip  to  shoulder 
650;  height  at  shoulder  (to  end  of  toe)  500;  hind  foot  215. 

Local  name  Piropiro. 

Proechimys  ochraceus  sp.  nov.     Ochraceous  Spiny  Rat. 

Type  from  El  Panorama,  Rio  Aurare,  Zulia,  Venezuela.  No.  18687 
Field  Museum  of  Natural  History.  Male  adult  (last  molar  very  slight- 
ly worn).  Collected  Jan.  17,  1911,  by  W.  H.  Osgood  and  S.  G.  Jewett. 

Characters.  Size  small;  tail  short;  color  pale.  Somewhat  similar 
to  P.  canicollis  but  coloration  of  the  head,  neck,  and  legs  not  grayish 
but  uniform  with  back  and  sides.  Similar  to  P.  guairce  but  smaller 
and  paler,  therefore  much  the  palest  of  the  known  members  of  the 
cayennensis  group.  Spines  rather  weak,  confined  to  back,  about  19 
mm.  long  by  .6  mm.  wide.  Color  of  upper  parts  chiefly  tawny  ochraceous 
lightly  lined  with  blackish,  the  rump,  sides  of  body,  and  outer  sides  of 
hind  legs  somewhat  paler,  more  buffy;  under  parts  pure  white;  hind 


JAN.,  1912.     MAMMALS,  VENEZUELA  AND  COLOMBIA  —  OSGOOD.         57 

feet  white  except  a  slight  extension  of  buffy  and  grayish  on  the  tarsal 
joint;  inner  sides  of  forefeet  white,  outer  sides  including  the  fourth  and 
fifth  toes  pale  grayish;  tail  hair  brown  above,  white  below. 

Skull  short,  broad,  and  but  slightly  ridged ;  parietals  smoothly  rounded 
laterally;  palatine  foramina  broad;  palate  with  a  median  ridge,  but  no 
lateral  channels;  pterygoid  processes  broad;  teeth  relatively  large  and 
heavy;  audital  bullse  actually  and  relatively  larger  than  in  P.  guairce. 

Measurements.  Type  and  one  topotype,  respectively:  Total  length 
346,  341;  head  and  body  196,  209;  tail  vertebrae  150,  132;  hind  foot 
(c.  u.)  45,  44.  Skulls  of  same:  Greatest  length  49.1,  49;  basilar  length 
34.9,  35;  zygomatic  breadth  24.7;  24.3;  length  of  nasals  18.1,  17.6; 
interorbital  breadth  11.2,  11.3;  interparietal  12x6.4,  12-5x7.1;  dias- 
tema  9.9,  10;  postpalatal  length  19.2,  19.2;  palatal  foramina  6.2  x  2.8, 
5.7  x  3.1;  width  of  pterygoid  process  1.9, — ;  crowns  of  upper  too  throw 
9.2,  8.8 

Remarks.  The  bright  ochraceous  or  almost  ochraceous  buff  color 
of  this  species  combined  with  its  small  size  distinguish  it  from  the  other 
forms  of  northern  South  America.  Its  closest  relationship  is  perhaps 
with  P.  guaira  but  it  is  readily  distinguished  by  its  paler  color,  nearly 
pure  white  hind  feet,  and  its  small  size.  P.  cherriei  of  the  upper  Ori- 
noco evidently  approaches  it  in  size  but  is  much  darker  in  color.  Prac- 
tically all  the  other  described  forms  are  much  larger. 

Our  specimens  were  trapped  about  the  roots  of  the  wild  pineapple, 
locally  known  as  maya  and  very  abundant  in  the  arid  parts  of  the 
northeast  shore  of  Lake  Maracaibo. 

Sylvilagus    nigronuchalis    continentis    subsp.    nov.       Black-naped 
Rabbit. 

Type  from  vicinity  of  Maracaibo,  Venezuela.  No.  18695  Field 
Museum  of  Natural  History.  Collected  Jan.  13,  1911,  by  W.  H. 
Osgood  and  S.  G.  Jewett. 

Characters.  Very  similar  to  S.  nigronuchalis  of  the  islands  of  Aruba 
and  Curagao  but  slightly  more  rufescent  in  color  especially  on  the  fore- 
head and  nose;  ears  more  broadly  tipped  with  black.  Skull  practically 
as  in  nigronuchalis.  Upper  parts  mixed  with  pale  buffy  or  clay  color 
and  black;  interorbital  region  slightly  more  buffy  or  rufescent  than 
back;  nape  deep  black  extending  in  made  skins  about  to  the  ends  of 
the  laid  back  ears;  ears  ("proectote  ")  buffy  brown  except  a  grayish  area 
near  the  inner  base  and  a  broad  intensely  black  tip ;  a  broad  buffy  ring 
surrounding  the  eye  except  the  anterior  lower  half;  rump  grayish;  under- 


58       FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

parts  except  throat  white,  somewhat  more  narrowly  so  than  in  nigro- 
nuchalis. 

Measurements.  Average  of  five  adults:  Total  length  403  (390-415) ; 
tail  vertebrae  39.6  (35-43);  hind  foot  78  (75-80);  ear  from  notch  (dry) 
52  (50-54).  Skull  of  type:  Greatest  length  72.4;  basilar  length  67.5; 
zygomatic  breadth  33.7;  width  of  mesopterygoid  fossa  5.4;  nasals 
(diagonally)  30.7;  interorbital  breadth  17.8;  diastema  21;  palatine  fora- 
mina 19.8  x  5.8;  maxillary  toothrow,  crowns  11.7,  alveoli  14.3. 

Remarks.  This  black-naped  rabbit  is  excessively  abundant  in  the 
vicinity  of  Maracaibo  and  in  the  similarly  arid  region  on  the  east  side 
of  the  lake,  extending  in  this  direction  at  least  to  the  Empalado  Savannas 
where  it  is  rather  rare.  It  is  -sold  daily  in  the  market  of  Maracaibo 
and  it  was  there  our  specimens  were  obtained.  The  Venezuelans  hunt 
it  at  night  with  a  torch  made  from  a  tightly  wrapped  bundle  of  dry 
sticks,  one  man  carrying  the  torch  and  another  the  gun,  usually  a 
single-barreled  muzzle-loader  of  the  cheapest  possible  construction. 
At  other  times  small  ground  fires  are  kindled  at  intervals  throughout 
several  acres  and  the  hunter  goes  stealthily  from  one  to  the  other 
shooting  such  rabbits  as  have  been  attracted  by  the  lights.  The  rabbits 
seem  to  be  exclusively  nocturnal,  not  stirring  even  in  the  short  twilight 
of  morning  and  evening.  At  daybreak  or  nightfall  I  repeatedly  trav- 
ersed localities  much  frequented  by  them  but  had  no  glimpse  of  one. 

The  abundance  of  these  rabbits  at  this  locality  combined  with  the 
fact  that  specimens  have  not  before  reached  a  museum  probably  indi- 
cates that  their  range  is  limited.  They  are  quite  distinct  from  the 
rufous-naped  species  of  the  gabbi  and  brasiliensis  series  which  occur 
east  and  west  in  Colombia  and  eastern  Venezuela  respectively.  From 
the  insular  form,  however,  they  are  distinguished  only  by  slight  average 
characters. 

?  Sylvilagus  meridensis  Thomas.     Merida  Rabbit. 

Some  small  rabbit  is  of  rare  occurrence  on  the  upper  slopes  of  Para- 
mo de  Tama,  but  we  were  unable  to  obtain  it.  It  is  known  to  the  natives 
and  we  corroborated  their  reports  by  finding  a  few  much-weathered 
pellets  of  dung. 

Tremarctos  ornatus  major!  Thomas.     Northern  Spectacled  Bear. 

The  spectacled  bear  inhabits  the  heavy  forests  of  the  Paramo  de 
Tama  but  is  very  seldom  seen  and  at  least  in  the  particular  localities 
we  visited  is  decidedly  rare.  We  found  no  tracks  and  only  one  frag- 


JAN.,  1912.     MAMMALS,  VENEZUELA  AND  COLOMBIA  —  OSGOOD.         59 

ment  of  dung  was  observed  during  our  four  weeks  on  the  paramo.  The 
dried  foot  and  claws  of  a  bear  killed  several  years  previously  was  exhibit- 
ed to  us  at  the  hacienda  "El  Severia"  just  below  our  camps.  Natives 
say  the  bears  live  almost  exclusively  in  the  forest  and  it  is  only  on  the 
very  rare  occasions  when  they  wander  out  into  the  cultivated  clearings 
that  they  have  been  killed.  One  of  their  favorite  foods  is  said  to  be 
obtained  from  some  part  of  a  smallp  hardy  palm  which  grows  sparingly 
at  considerable  altitudes. 

Potos  flavus  meridensis  Thomas.     Merida  Kinkajou. 

A  captive  kinkajou  was  seen  in  Cucuta,  and  although  the  species 
was  not  noted  elsewhere,  it  is  probably  generally  distributed. 
Local  name  Cuchi-cuchi. 

Canis  thous  savannarum  Thomas.     Savanna  Fox. 

Two  specimens,  Empalado  Savannas,  30  miles  east  of  Maracaibo, 
Venezuela,  April  8,  1911. 

Foxes  or  "zorros"  are  common  from  the  shore  of  Lake  Maracaibo 
eastward.  Our  specimens  agree  very  closely  with  the  description  of 
the  subspecies  savannarum  from  the  savannas  of  Guiana.  They  were 
killed  with  small  shot  from  a  lookout  in  a  tree  at  about  nine  o'clock  in 
the  evening.  As  seen  from  above  in  rather  dim  moonlight  against  a 
background  of  sandy  soil  and  tufts  of  dry  grass,  only  their  black  dorsal 
streaks  were  visible.  These  appeared  to  glide  sinuously  over  the  ground 
in  a  most  uncanny  manner  and  as  I  fired  I  could  not  imagine  what  they 
would  prove  to  be. 

Field  measurements  are,  for  male  and  female  respectively:  Total 
length  870,  890;  head  and  body  616,  597;  tail  vertebras  254,  293;  hind 
foot  125,  130. 

Pel  is  onca  Linnaeus.     Jaguar. 

One  specimen,  Maracaibo  (purchased). 

Jaguars  are  quite  common  throughout  the  region  surrounding  Lake 
Maracaibo.  They  are  held  in  considerable  fear  by  most  of  the  native 
hunters  and  though  frequently  killed  by  them  it  generally  occurs  when 
all  the  circumstances  favor  the  hunter.  This  is  most  often  when  el 
tigre  unexpectedly  appears  while  the  hunter  is  perched  in  a  tree  watching 
for  deer  and  a  heavy  charge  of  buckshot  at  short  range  is  generally 
effective.  We  noted  considerable  evidence  of  the  destruction  of  cattle 
by  jaguars,  especially  in  the  region  between  Lake  Maracaibo  and  the 


60       FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Empalado  Savannas.  Of  their  natural  prey,  the  capybara  is  perhaps 
the  favorite  and  they  doubtless  do  not  hesitate  to  pursue  it  into  the 
water.  A  partly  eaten  carcass  of  one  of  the  big  rodents  was  found  near 
our  camp  in  the  Empalado  Savannas  but  the  jaguar  that  had  been 
frightened  from  it  failed  to  return. 

Jaguars  seem  not  only  to  have  less  distaste  for  water  than  most  cats 
but  even  enter  it  and  swim  freely.  In  some  of  the  mangrove  swamps 
near  Maracaibo  their  trails  are  frequently  found  leading  to  the  edge  of 
rather  wide  channels  of  water  and  out  on  the  other  side.  According  to 
report,  two  were  killed  in  Lake  Maracaibo  not  long  ago  while  swimming 
from  the  mainland  to  Toas  Island,  a  distance  of  more  than  two  miles. 

Felis  pardalis  subsp.     Ocelot. 

Evidently  not  very  common.  Several  poorly  prepared  skins 
offered  for  sale  in  Maracaibo  were  purchased  for  a  few  cents  each.  The 
enterprising  venders,  in  the  expectation  of  a  higher  price,  insisted  that 
these  were  the  skins  of  young  jaguars  but  after  being  convinced  that 
we  could  not  be  fooled  in  this  way,  acknowledged  their  deception. 

An  occasional  track  of  an  ocelot  was  seen  near  El  Panorama  and 
once  I  was  so  fortunate  as  to  see  one  of  the  animals.  This  was  in  the 
full  heat  of  midday  and  rather  unexpected.  It  was  surprised  at  a 
little  pool  of  water  among  some  large  mangroves  and  bounded  across 
in  front  of  me  scarcely  30  yards  away,  presenting  a  very  attractive 
sight. 

Tracks  of  some  small  cat  about  the  size  of  an  ocelot  were  seen  at 
high  altitudes  on  Paramo  de  Tama. 

Local  name  Tigrillo. 

Felis  concolor  Linnaeus.     Cougar. 

According  to  report,  cougars  are  not  uncommon  in  certain  districts 
near  Maracaibo.  They  are  seldom  seen,  however,  and  to  successfully 
hunt  them  good  dogs  are  necessary.  One  hunter  living  on  the  shore  of 
the  lake  and  almost  directly  opposite  Maracaibo  is  reputed  to  have 
killed  from  twenty  to  thirty  during  the  last  fifteen  years.  Several 
hides  in  poor  condition  were  seen  in  Maracaibo. 

Local  name  Leon  or  Leon  bayo. 

Lutra  sp.     Otter. 

One  hears  but  little  of  otters  although  it  is  probable  they  are  generally 
distributed.  A  dressed  hide  was  seen  in  Colon. 


JAN.,  1912.     MAMMALS,  VENEZUELA  AND  COLOMBIA  —  OSGOOD.         61 

Tayra  barbara  Linnaeus.     Tayra. 

One  specimen,  Empalado  Savannas,  April  8. 

This  is  an  adult  male  shot  and  presented  by  U.  S.  Consul  Totten 
who  encountered  it  roving  about  in  midday.  External  field  measure- 
ments are:  Total  length  1035;  head  and  body  625;  tail  vertebrae  410; 
hind  foot  118. 

Local  names  Guache  and  Guanaico. 

Mustela  affinis  Gray.     Allied  Weasel. 

Two  specimens  (c?  and  ?),  Paramo  de  Tama,  head  of  Tachira 
River,  Venezuela  and  Colombia. 

One  of  these  was  caught  in  a  steel  trap  baited  with  birds  and  set 
by  the  side  of  a  rushing  mountain  stream,  the  conditions  being  essentially 
those  under  which  so  many  weasels  are  caught  in  more  northern  coun- 
tries. The  other  was  shot  in  midday  as  it  came  prowling  about  our 
"house"  in  the  clearing  on  the  Venezuelan  side  of  the  Tachira. 

No  doubt  these  specimens  are  fairly  typical  of  M .  affinis,  the  type 
of  which  is  stated  to  have  come  from  "Columbia."  They  differ  from 
a  specimen  from  Sierra  de  Merida  only  in  somewhat  richer  color  of  the 
under  parts,  the  male  being  bright  orange  rufous  on  the  abdomen  and 
paler  on  the  chest,  throat,  and  inguinal  region.  The  white  marking  in 
front  of  the  ear  is  absent  in  the  female  which  is  in  very  fine  coat,  the 
entire  upper  parts  except  the  head  and  tip  of  tail  being  rich  seal  brown 
so  dark  that  the  blackish  head  and  tail-tip  are  not  in  great  contrast. 
The  general  appearance  of  the  upper  parts,  therefore,  is  extremely 
suggestive  of  a  miniature  of  a  North  American  mink. 

Conepatus  mapurito  Gmelin.     Hog-nosed  Skunk. 

One  specimen,  El  Panorama,  Rio  Aurare,  Jan.  19. 

Although  taken  in  the  dry  coast  lowlands,  this  specimen  must  for 
the  present  be  referred  to  C.  mapurito,  the  type  locality  of  which  is 
Pamplona,  Colombia,  in  the  cool  highlands  not  far  from  Paramo  de 
Tama.  It  is  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  our  efforts  to  secure  skunks 
in  that  vicinity  were  unsuccessful.  The  Rio  Aurare  example  is  thinly 
haired  and  has  two  short  white  dorsal  stripes,  apparently  being  quite 
similar  in  markings  to  the  Bogota  specimen  to  which  Thomas  has  re- 
ferred.* External  field  measurements  are:  Total  length  600;  head 
and  body  387;  tail  vertebrae  213;  hind  foot  74. 

Local  name  Mapurite. 

*  Ann.  &  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.,  (7),  II,  p.  318,  1898. 


62        FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

Blarina  meridensis  Thomas.     Merida  Short-tailed  Shrew. 

Sixteen  specimens,  Paramo  de  Tama,  head  of  Tachira  River,  Vene- 
zuela and  Colombia. 

The  locality  from  which  this  series  comes  lies  between  Bogota  and 
Merida,  type  localities  respectively  of  the  two  known  South  American 
species  of  Blarina.  The  difference  between  the  two  forms  is  mainly 
of  size  and  our  specimens  agree  in  that  respect  with  meridensis.  A 
specimen  submitted  to  Mr.  Oldfield  Thomas  is  pronounced  by  him  to 
be  typical  of  that  species. 

Shrews  can  scarcely  be  called  abundant  in  this  locality  since  a  line 
of  over  100  traps  seldom  yielded  more  than  one  or  two  in  a  single  night. 
Their  habits  apparently  are  similar  to  those  of  their  northern  relatives 
and  like  them  they  readily  take  oatmeal  bait  in  traps  set  in  moist  places 
in  the  heavy  woods  or  along  trickling  streams.  Average  flesh  measure- 
ments of  ten  adults  are:  Total  length  123.7  (120-129);  tail  vertebrae 
36.3  (35-38);  nin(i  foot  (c-  U0  J5-4  (i5~l6)- 

Molossus  crassicaudatus  Geoffrey.     Lesser  Dusky  Molossus. 

Eleven  specimens,  Maracaibo,  March  23-29. 

Two  of  these  were  caught  fluttering  about  a  lighted  room  at  night 
and  the  others  were  taken  from  the  hollow  pillars  surrounding  the 
patio  of  the  American  consulate.  The  species  is  excessively  abundant 
in  the  city  of  Maracaibo  in  which  every  suitable  building  harbors  it 
in  numbers.  In  walking  the  streets  towards  evening,  or  frequently 
during  the  day,  one  hears  the  wheezing  cries  of  many  bats  from  concealed 
cavities  under  eaves  and  cornices. 

Dr.  G.  M.  Allen,  who  has  recently  elucidated  the  status  of  this 
species,  has  kindly  made  critical  examination  of  specimens  from  our 
series.  Measurements  of  forearms  of  10  alcoholic  specimens  average 
39.3  (38-40.5)  mm. 

Noctilio  albi venter  minor  Osgood.     Lesser  Noctilio. 

Noctilio  minor  Osgood,  Field  Mus.  Pub.  No.  149,  Zool.  Ser.  X,  p. 
30,  Oct.  20,  1910. 

Two  specimens  (skins),  El  Panorama,  Rio  Aurare,  Jan.  18. 

A  slight  difference  in  size  between  these  two  specimens,  both  of 
which  are  males,  and  the  fact  that  both  are  slightly  larger  than  the 
type  of  N.  minor,  which  is  a  female,  makes  it  more  than  likely  that 
N.  minor  is  only  subspecifically  separable  from  N.  albiventer.  The 
color  also  is  variable,  the  upper  parts  in  one  being  bright  cinnamon 


JAN.,  1912.     MAMMALS,  VENEZUELA  AND  COLOMBIA  —  OSGOOD.         63 

rufous  to  chestnut  without  trace  of  middorsal  streak  and  in  the  other 
dull  clay  color  with  an  indistinct  light  median  streak. 

Diremus  youngi   (Jentink).     Blood-sucking  Bat. 

One  specimen  (skin),  El  Panorama,  Rio  Aurare,  Jan.  21. 

This  rare  bat,  one  of  the  few  known  specimens,  was  disabled  by  a 
blow  from  a  light  club  in  the  hands  of  our  cook-boy  who  discovered  it 
hovering  near  his  fire  one  evening  after  complete  darkness  had  set  in. 
The  color  of  the  under  parts  in  our  specimen  is  much  as  in  many  examples 
of  Desmodus  rotundus,  the  hairs  cinnamon  brown  or  lighter  at  the  bases 
and  ecru  drab  at  the  tips.  The  upper  parts  are  rather  dark  cinnamon 
brown  more  glossy  and  uniform  than  in  Desmodus;*  between  the  shoul- 
ders is  a  thinly  haired  patch  in  which  the  light  bases  of  the  hairs  are 
.evident.  The  white  wing  markings  are  very  pronounced,  as  follows: 
Antebrachial  membrane  sharply  and  narrowly  white-bordered;  mem- 
brane between  second  and  third  fingers  largely  white,  this  extending 
to  the  covering  of  the  bones  of  the  second  finger;  wing  tips  white  to 
middle  of  membrane  between  third  and  fourth  fingers;  lower  edge  of 
wing  white-bordered  throughout.  The  skull  differs  from  that  of 
Desmodus  in  several  characters  which  have  not  been  pointed  out.  The 
braincase  is  much  broader  and  more  expanded  laterally;  the  zygomata 
are  heavier  and  more  angular  anteriorly;  the  audital  bullas  are  nearly 
twice  as  large;  and  the  palate  is  shorter,  broader,  and  less  excavated. 

A  specimen  of  D.  youngi  from  Parana,  Brazil,  loaned  by  the  U.  S. 
National  Museum,  is  markedly  paler  than  ours,  being  uniform  rather 
glossy  clay  color;  but  considering  the  great  color  variation  in  bats  and 
since  no  dry  specimens  from  Guiana  are  available,  separation  at  this 
time  does  not  seem  warranted. 

Artibeus  jamaicensis  palmarum  Allen  and  Chapman.    Palm  Artibeus. 

One  specimen  (skin),  Encontrados,  Sept.  25,  1910;  collected  by  H.  F. 
Raven. 

Andersen,  in  his  careful  monograph  of  Artibeus,^  has  recognized  a 
subspecies  under  the  name  palmarum,  on  the  basis  of  a  very  slight 
average  reduction  in  the  size  of  the  teeth.  Therefore,  it  seems  best  at 


*  In  selecting  specimens  of  Desmodus  for  comparison,  I  find  a  noticeable  difference  in  size  between 
examples  of  typical  D.  rotundus  from  Paraguay  and  specimens  from  Mexico  and  Central  America. 
In  typical  rotundus,  the  forearm  measures  60-64  nun.,  while  in  Mexican  and  Guatemalan  specimens  the 
maximum  is  55.  A  corresponding  difference  is  shown  by  the  skulls.  It  would  seem  advisable,  there- 
fore, to  recognize  a  northern  subspecies,  using  Wagner's  name  murinus  (Suppl.  Schreb.  Saugeth.,  I, 
P-  377,  1840)  which  would  stand  as  Desmodus  rotundus  murinus  Wagner. 

t  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.,  pp.  205-319,  1908. 


64       FIELD  MUSEUM  or  NATURAL  HISTORY  —  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

present,  with  no  great  accession  of  new  material,  to  use  this  name. 
But  after  noting  the  faint-hearted  and  apologetic  way  in  which  the 
monographer  has  given  it  place,*  and  after  the  comparison  of  our 
Venezuelan  specimen  with  a  single  Brazilian  one  and  finding  the  teeth 
of  the  latter  actually  the  smaller,  one  is  strongly  tempted  to  discard 
palmar um  in  favor  of  lituratus. 

Uroderma  bilobatum  Peters.     Common  Uroderma. 

Two  specimens  (skins),  Encontrados,  Sept.  25,  1910;  collected  by 
H.  F.  Raven. 

Vampyrus  spectrum  (Linnaeus).     False  Vampire. 

One  specimen  (skin),  Encontrados,  Sept.  30,  1910;  collected  by  H. 
F.  Raven. 

Saccopteryx  leptura    (Schreber).     Striped  Sac-winged  Bat. 

Three  specimens  (skins),  El  Panorama,  Rio  Aurare,  Jan.  18-21,  1911. 

Two  were  obtained  from  their  diurnal  resting  place  in  a  decayed 
crevice  in  the  side  of  a  tree  and  the  third  was  shot  while  flying  back 
and  forth  over  a  trail  bordered  on  either  side  by  tall  trees.  Others, 
apparently  of  the  same  species,  were  seen. 

The  palest  specimen  agrees  well  with  the  description  of  S.  canes cens 
except  for  the  slight  development  of  the  light  superciliary  stripe.  The 
head  and  under  parts  are  pale  Isabella  color,  the  back  more  brownish, 
and  the  marginal  hairiness  on  the  membranes  slightly  rusty.  The 
darkest  one  is  chiefly  Vandyke  brown,  becoming  seal  brown  between 
the  light  stripes.  The  third  is  intermediate  between  the  other  two, 
thus  forcing  the  conclusion  that  color  is  of  relatively  little  importance. 

Rhogeesa  io   Thomas.     South  American  Rhogeesa. 

One  specimen  (skin),  El  Panorama,  Rio  Aurare,  Jan.  24;  two  speci- 
mens (in  alcohol),  io  miles  north  of  Cucuta,  March  16;  seven  specimens, 
Empalado  Savannas,  April. 

The  color  of  the  body  and  head  of  the  dry  specimen  evidently  is 
even  brighter  than  that  of  the  type  as  described  by  Thomas.  Both 
upper  and  under  parts  are  bright  clay  color  (Ridgw.,  PI.  V,  No.  8), 
the  head  and  shoulders  being  somewhat  lighter  than  the  back  and  rump 

*  In  one  place  (p.  278),  he  says, — "I  should  not  have  tried  to  keep  this  form  separate  from  A. 
j.  lituratus,  if  the  name  palmarum  had  not  been  available,"  thus  confessing  a  prostitution  of  zoology 
to  nomenclature  which  scarcely  seems  justifiable. 


JAN.,  1912.     MAMMALS,  VENEZUELA  AND  COLOMBIA  —  OSGOOD.          65 

and  the  bases  of  the  hairs  everywhere  being  lighter  than  the  tips.  A 
specimen  of  R.  tumida  from  Mexico  is  very  decidedly  darker  throughout. 
The  skull  is  slightly  smaller  and  especially  narrower  than  in 
R.  tumida,  but  the  braincase  is  by  no  means  lower  and  flatter 
as  is  said  to  be  the  case  in  the  type.  Measurements  of  forearms  indi- 
cate some  variation  in  size,  the  smallest  scarcely  exceeding  R.  minu- 
tilla.  They  are  as  follows:  27.2,  26.8,  25.8.  Probably  this  and  other 
forms  will  eventually  be  regarded  as  subspecies  of  R.  tumida, 

One  specimen  was  caught  in  a  net  as  it  was  issuing  from  its  roosting 
place  among  the  dead  rushes  forming  the  thatched  roof  of  an  outbuilding ; 
two  others  were  "switched"  as  they  rapidly  flitted  about  our  heads 
under  the  covered  portico  of  a  dwelling  house;  and  the  remainder  were 
obtained  in  similar  manner  about  the  camp  in  the  savannas. 

Myotis  nigricans  concinnus  (H.  Allen).     Northern  Blackish  Bat. 

One  specimen  (skin),  El  Panorama,  Rio  Aurare,  January  22. 

The  small  size,  narrow  skull,  and  dull  color  of  this  specimen  amply 
distinguish  it  from  typical  nigricans  of  Brazil.  It  agrees  closely  with 
certain  specimens  from  southern  Mexico  in  the  collection  of  the  U.  S. 
Biological  Survey  probably  representing  M.  n.  concinnus,  a  name  which 
has  been  called  to  my  attention  by  Mr.  Gerrit  S.  Miller,  Jr.*  M. 
nesopolus  of  the  island  of  Curagao  also  is  closely  related. 

Myotis  albescens  (Geoffroy).     Pale-bellied  Bat. 

One  specimen  (skin),  El  Panorama,  Rio  Aurare,  January  22. 

Comparison  of  this  bat  with  typical  examples  of  albescens  from  Para- 
guay reveals  a  few  slight  differences;  but  until  the  status  of  several 
names  is  determined,  especially  Vespertilio  arsinoe  Temminck  of  Suri- 
nam, and  until  more  material  is  secured,  it  seems  best  to  allow  our  single 
specimen  to  rest  under  the  "blanket  name"  Myotis  albescens. 

Alouatta  senicula  Linnasus.     Red  Howler. 

The  red  howlers  are  abundant  in  the  Maracaibo  region.  They  are 
heard  daily  in  the  mangrove  thickets  on  the  east  side  of  Lake  Maracaibo 
and  several  were  seen  in  the  canya  leading  from  El  Panorama  to  the 
lake.  One  very  large  male  was  encountered  there  at  very  short  range, 
suddenly  coming  into  view  through  an  opening  as  we  pushed  our  little 
flat -bottomed  cayuca  up  the  oozy  channel.  He  appeared  too  startled 


*  Cf.  Proc.  Biol.  Soc.  Wash.,  XIII,  p.  154,  June  13,  1900. 


66        FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY  — -  ZOOLOGY,  VOL.  X. 

to  move  immediately  but  stood  facing  us  from  the  top  of  a  mangrove, 
his  rich  color  glowing  in  the  full  glare  of  the  sun.  In  ascending  the 
Catatumbo  River  to  Encontrados  by  steamer,  we  saw  some  forty  or  fifty 
howlers  from  the  deck  of  the  boat.  They  were  in  parties  of  five  or 
six  nearly  always  including  several  half  grown  young. 
Local  name  Araguato. 

Cebus  apella  leucocephalus  Gray.     Brown-faced  Capuchin. 

A  small  troop  of  monkeys  apparently  of  this  species  was  seen  clam- 
bering through  the  tops  of  some  thinly  foliaged  trees  near  El  Panorama, 
Rio  Aurare.  Several  captive  animals  were  seen  at  various  times  in 
Maracaibo. 


FIELD  MUSEUM  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY. 


PLATE  V,  ZOOLOGY. 


Interior  of  forest  on  Paramo  de  Tama  at  7.000  ft.  altitude. 


Vegetation  of  arid  region  near  Lake  Maracaibo. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


